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Endothelial cell morphometry near branch junctions of rabbit aortae
1Department of Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Endothelial cell shape, measured by cell orientation index (COI), may indicate blood flow direction but not reliably reflect shear stress or tensile forces in the aorta. This finding impacts understanding vascular biomechanics.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Biophysics
- Morphometrics
Background:
- Endothelial cells line blood vessels and respond to hemodynamic forces.
- Understanding endothelial cell shape is crucial for interpreting vascular biomechanics and disease.
- Previous studies suggest cell morphology relates to blood flow, but specific indicators remain debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between endothelial cell morphometrics and hemodynamic forces in the aorta.
- To determine if the cell orientation index (COI) can reliably indicate shear stress or tensile forces.
Main Methods:
- Corrosion casting of rabbit aortas and branches.
- Digitization of endothelial cell outlines.
- Calculation of the cell orientation index (COI) using moments of area about cell axes.
Main Results:
- High COI values were observed in regions distal to intercostal, lumbar, and aortorenal arteries, correlating with high shear stress areas.
- Low COI values were found at the flow divider, where shear stress approaches zero.
- The long axis of endothelial cells appears to align with blood flow direction.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial cell shape, as indicated by COI, is likely influenced by a combination of shear stress and tensile forces.
- While cell long axis may reflect flow direction, cell shape is not a definitive indicator of specific hemodynamic forces like shear stress or tension.