Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Shape factor analysis as a quantitative framework for assessing spheroid and organoid morphology and invasiveness.

APL bioengineering·2026
Same author

Directional bone matrix mineralization in the CAM assay is governed by vascular integration and matrix remodeling.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Shape Factor Analysis as a Quantitative Framework for Assessing Spheroid and Organoid Morphology and Invasiveness.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Large adipocytes increase vesicle-mediated lipid release and promote breast cancer malignancy.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Protocol to fabricate elastomer microwells for three-dimensional culture of primary adipocytes.

STAR protocols·2026
Same author

Mineralized Cryogel/Hydrogel Constructs to Recapitulate Early Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis In Vitro.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Microfluidic Model to Mimic Initial Event of Neovascularization
10:01

Microfluidic Model to Mimic Initial Event of Neovascularization

Published on: April 10, 2021

Mechanical strain regulates endothelial cell patterning in vitro.

Takuya Matsumoto1, Yu Ching Yung, Claudia Fischbach

  • 1Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. tmatsu@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp

Tissue Engineering
|May 24, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Mechanical strain guides blood vessel development by influencing endothelial cell migration and sprout formation. Cyclic uniaxial strain directs cell movement and inhibits branching, highlighting its role in vascular patterning.

More Related Videos

Mechanical Stimulation of Stem Cells Using Cyclic Uniaxial Strain
25:12

Mechanical Stimulation of Stem Cells Using Cyclic Uniaxial Strain

Published on: July 29, 2007

Segmenting Growth of Endothelial Cells in 6-Well Plates on an Orbital Shaker for Mechanobiological Studies
12:28

Segmenting Growth of Endothelial Cells in 6-Well Plates on an Orbital Shaker for Mechanobiological Studies

Published on: June 3, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Microfluidic Model to Mimic Initial Event of Neovascularization
10:01

Microfluidic Model to Mimic Initial Event of Neovascularization

Published on: April 10, 2021

Mechanical Stimulation of Stem Cells Using Cyclic Uniaxial Strain
25:12

Mechanical Stimulation of Stem Cells Using Cyclic Uniaxial Strain

Published on: July 29, 2007

Segmenting Growth of Endothelial Cells in 6-Well Plates on an Orbital Shaker for Mechanobiological Studies
12:28

Segmenting Growth of Endothelial Cells in 6-Well Plates on an Orbital Shaker for Mechanobiological Studies

Published on: June 3, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Mechanobiology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Vertebrate circulatory systems display complex tissue-specific vascular patterns.
  • The precise cues governing vascular development and patterning are not fully understood.
  • Mechanical forces are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of cellular behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of cyclic uniaxial strain on vascular endothelial cell dynamics and sprout formation.
  • To elucidate the role of mechanical stimulation in conjunction with growth factors in vascular development.
  • To explore strain effects in both 2D and 3D in vitro culture models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid culture systems of vascular endothelial cells.
  • Applied cyclic uniaxial strain to cell cultures.
  • Administered combinations of growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor.
  • Analyzed cell alignment, migration, proliferation, sprout formation, branching, and vessel thickness.

Main Results:

  • Endothelial cells in 2D cultures aligned and migrated perpendicular to the strain axis.
  • Mechanical strain influenced the spatial distribution of cell proliferation in 2D cultures.
  • Cyclic strain regulated the directionality of sprout formation induced by growth factors in 3D cultures.
  • Strain inhibited branching and increased the thickness of endothelial cell structures in 3D cultures.

Conclusions:

  • External mechanical stimulation, specifically cyclic uniaxial strain, is crucial for regulating endothelial cell behavior.
  • Mechanical cues play a significant role in controlling endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation into vascular structures.
  • This study underscores the importance of mechanobiology in understanding blood vessel development and patterning.