Scanning acoustic microscopy visualizes cytomechanical responses to cytochalasin D
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Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Live Cell Response to Mechanical Stimulation Studied by Integrated Optical and Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: October 5, 2010
Abstract:
The reactions of XTH-2 cells (line derived from Xenopus laevis tadpole hearts) to cytochalasin D (CD) were followed using scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) at 0.9 GHz, fluorescence and electron microscopy. The first reaction to CD which can be detected by SAM is a loss of image contrast, indicating a decrease in acoustic impedance of about 30%. Based on structural changes revealed by staining of actin with TRITC-phalloidin, and taking theoretical considerations into account, a relationship between impedance decrease and tension in the actin fibrillar system is deduced.
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