Biomechanics and Cells: (Series Number 54 Society for Experimental Biology Seminar Series)

Although the effects of exercise and mechanical forces on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems have been well documented, the actual mechanisms by which mechanical forces act at the cellular level are not well understood. At present, studies of the interaction of mechanical forces with cells encompass many different cell types in various tissues. This volume draws together these apparently disparate observations and makes comparisons between the nature of cellular responses in different tissues. Studies of cells derived from skeletal muscle, bone and cardiovascular tissue are considered to provide a comprehensive synthesis and review of recent work. The volume will be of interest to all those working in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular biology, as well as those taking courses in exercise and sport science, biomechanics and orthopaedics.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Part I. Soft Tissue: 1. Signal transduction in vascular cells exposed to cyclic strain; 2. Effects of pressure overload on vascular smooth muscle cells; 3. Effect of increased flow on release of vasoactive substances from vascular endothelial cells; 4. Modulation of endothelium derived relaxing factor activity by flow; 5. Stretch, overload and gene expression in muscle; 6. Stretch sensitivity in stretch receptor muscles; 7. Mechanical interactions with plant cells - a selective overview; 8. Mechanical tensing of cells and chromosome arrangement; 9. Alterations in gene expression induced by low-frequency, low-intensity electromagnetic fields; Part II. Hard Tissue: 10. Cellular modelling of mechanical interactions with the skeleton; 11. Mechanical and hormonal influences in vivo cause regional differences in bone remodelling; 12. Mechanically sensitive cells in bone; 13. Mechanical stress and bone development; 14. Applications of homogenous, defined strains to cell cultures; 15. The role of prostaglandin in bone cells as mediators of mechanical strain; 16. Effects of mechanical stretch on actin polymerisation in fibroblasts of the periodontium; 17. Modulation of cartilage extracellular matrix turnover by pulsed electromagnetic fields; Index.

Review :
"The strengths of this book include the diversity of cell types and physiological responses covered, the significant detail on the putative biological mechanisms by which mechanical stimuli may be transduced by cells, and most of all the variety and detail of the experimental models, preparations, and devices that are described...an interesting collection of articles on mechanical signal transduction by cells in a variety of experimental settings." A.D. McCulloch, Applied Mechanics Review