Biomechanics and Cells

"The strengths of this book include the diversity of cell types and physiological responses covered, the significant detail on the putative biological mechanisms by which mechanical stimuli may be transduced by cells, and most of all the variety and detail of the experimental models, preparations, and devices that are described...an interesting collection of articles on mechanical signal transduction by cells in a variety of experimental settings." A.D. McCulloch, Applied Mechanics Review

• Preface; Part I. Soft Tissue: 1. Signal transduction in vascular cells exposed to cyclic strain; 2. Effects of pressure overload on vascular smooth muscle cells; 3. Effect of increased flow on release of vasoactive substances from vascular endothelial cells; 4. Modulation of endothelium derived relaxing factor activity by flow; 5. Stretch, overload and gene expression in muscle; 6. Stretch sensitivity in stretch receptor muscles; 7. Mechanical interactions with plant cells - a selective overview; 8. Mechanical tensing of cells and chromosome arrangement; 9. Alterations in gene expression induced by low-frequency, low-intensity electromagnetic fields; Part II. Hard Tissue: 10. Cellular modelling of mechanical interactions with the skeleton; 11. Mechanical and hormonal influences in vivo cause regional differences in bone remodelling; 12. Mechanically sensitive cells in bone; 13. Mechanical stress and bone development; 14. Applications of homogenous, defined strains to cell cultures; 15. The role of prostaglandin in bone cells as mediators of mechanical strain; 16. Effects of mechanical stretch on actin polymerisation in fibroblasts of the periodontium; 17. Modulation of cartilage extracellular matrix turnover by pulsed electromagnetic fields; Index.