Abstract
Local stiffness of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) exposed to hypertonic solution was determined by means of atomic force microscope. Height of the cells was significantly decreased in hypertonic solution (350 mOsm/kg) within 5 minutes; it was gradually recovered to normal level, which was measured in isotonic solution (290 mOsm/kg), within 40 minutes. The stiffness was significantly increased after exposure to hypertonic solution both nuclear and perinuclear regions in the cells; it was maintained up to 45 minutes. Actin filaments did not show noticeable change in BAECs after immersed in hypertonic solution. These results suggest that the local stiffness of BAECs is affected by exposure to hypertonic fluid, and the increase in stiffness is induced by the shrinkage of cells.
