Issue title: Selected Proceedings of the 16th Conference of the European Society for Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation (ESCHM), 18–21 June, 2011, Munich, Germany
Article type: Research Article
Authors: Dreyer, Lutz; | Krolitzki, Benjamin | Autschbach, Rüdiger | Vogt, Peter | Welte, Tobias | Ngezahayo, Anaclet | Glasmacher, Birgit
Affiliations: Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany | Institute for Biophysics, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany | Department of Cardiac and Thorax Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany | Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany | Clinic for Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Note: [] Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Note: [] Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Glasmacher, M.Sc., Institute for Multiphase Processes, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstr. 36, 30176 Hannover, Germany. Tel.: +49 511 762 3828; Fax: +49 511 762 3031; E-mail: glasmacher@imp.uni-hannover.de
Abstract: Endothelial cells (ECs) are permanently exposed to the blood flow and the resulting shear stress, its magnitude varying with the EC site in the blood stream. Along with other mechanical stimuli like vessel wall stretching or hydrostatic blood pressure, this shear stress modulates the endothelial cell function, morphology and gene expression. Here, we describe our improved cone-and-plate reactor that applies up to 10 dyn/cm2 uniform wall shear stress on a defined, ring-shaped region on a culture dish. At the same time, a hydrostatic pressure of up to 195 mmHg can be applied by increasing the atmospheric pressure in the incubator box. Gas composition can be controlled additionally, used for maintaining CO2-homeostasis or inducing hypoxic conditions. For better comparability, six cone-and-plate systems can be used at the same time at different rotational velocities. The effects on cell morphology, cytoskeleton and cell alignment can be monitored during application using a laser scanning microscope. Flow conditions have been studied and a sufficient area of uniform wall shear stress could be shown. To exceed 10 dyn/cm2, we suggest an increase in medium viscosity.
Keywords: shear force, cone-and-plate rheometer, mechanotransduction, endothelial cells
DOI: 10.3233/CH-2011-1488
Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 49, no. 1-4, pp. 391-397, 2011
