Strain measurements in vascular smooth muscle cells grown on a biaxially-stretched substrate

Vascular smooth muscle cells were grown on a compliant membrane to which a uniform, biaxial strain was applied. The displacements of cell-surface markers were measured, so that cell strain could be calculated. This system provides the means to measure quantitatively the mechanical response of cells in culture to a controlled mechanical input. The actual deformation of the cells was determined by measuring the distance between cell surface markers in the deformed and undeformed states. It was found that the variation in cell strain is due to morphological and mechanical properties of the cell, such as strength of attachment, degree of spreading, and organization, and stiffness of cytoskeletal elements