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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

The Assembly and Application of 'Shear Rings': A Novel Endothelial Model for Orbital, Unidirectional and Periodic Fluid Flow and Shear Stress
Published on: October 31, 2016
Shear stress induces changes in the morphology and cytoskeleton organisation of arterial endothelial cells
A Cucina1, A V Sterpetti, G Pupelis
1First Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the morphology and cytoskeleton organisation of endothelial cells (EC) determined by exposure to a laminar flow. Cultured EC were exposed to a wall shear stress of 6 dyne/cm2 for 24 hours.
Chief Outcome Measures:
The morphology of EC was analysed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The organisation of the cytoskeleton was determined by double fluorescence labeling with antibody anti-vimentin, anti-vinculin, anti-tubulin, and with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin.
Results:
EC exposed to laminar flow become round-shaped with decreased area of adhesion to the substrate. There was a clear reorganisation of the cytoskeleton after exposure to shear stress; the distribution of actin changed from a stress fibre pattern to a more diffuse membrane-associated distribution. These changes in shape and cytoskeleton organisation were reversible after a 48-hour resting period.
Conclusions:
EC respond to laminar flow in a predictable manner and these findings may be correlated to the functional changes of EC observed after exposure to shear stress.
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