抄録
Gap junction communication is known to play essential roles in tenocyte functions in response to mechanical loading. In our previous study, it was exhibited that an application of static tensile strain with a physiological amplitude for 1h promoted gap junction communication in tenocytes while overloading strain suppressed gap junction communication. However, temporal regulation of gap junction communication during an extended static loading has not been characterized. Accordingly, the present study tested a hypothesis that gap junction communication is regulated in a manner depending on the duration of mechanical loading. Gap junction communication was investigated using a fluorescence loss in photobleaching (FLIP) technique. It was demonstrated that the level of gap junction communication was fluctuated under physiological 4% static strain during 24h period, while it was gradually increased under 8% static strain.
