Abstract
Changes in chondrocyte shape and volume are believed to play a role in the mechanical signal transduction pathway of articular cartilage. To examine how chondrocyte deformation may be transduced to an intracellular signal, confocal microscopy was used to perform three-dimensional morphometric analyses of chondrocyte nuclei during applied deformation of the cartilage matrix. Uniaxial compression of the matrix resulted in a significant decrease in nuclear height in the direction of compression, concomitant with decreases in overall chondrocyte height and volume. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton resulted in a decrease in nuclear size and prevented nuclear deformation during matrix loading. These findings suggest that the chondrocyte nucleus exists in a state of tensile prestress, and that the actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in regulating nuclear deformation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 213-214 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| State | Published - 1994 |
| Event | Proceedings of the 1994 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition - Chicago, IL, USA Duration: Nov 6 1994 → Nov 11 1994 |
Conference
| Conference | Proceedings of the 1994 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition |
|---|---|
| City | Chicago, IL, USA |
| Period | 11/6/94 → 11/11/94 |