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Structural Modeling of an Osteoblast Subjected to Hypergravity LoadingOsteoblasts, the bone-forming cells, are sensitive to altered mechanical loads such as those induced by fluid shear forces and cyclic uniaxial tension and compression. The cytoskeleton is thought to play an important role in a cell's response to mechanical loading and to coordinate cell shape changes. While some theoretical calculations indicate that a cell should not be able to respond to relatively small changes in gravity given the magnitude of forces exerted by intracellular components, osteoblasts have been shown to respond to microgravity. In this study, we investigated whether an osteoblast can sense a constant hypergravity acceleration of 10G. We asked if this load changes the shape of an osteoblast, and if engineering modeling accurately predicts the shape change. We modeled a cell by representing it as a series of axisymmetric shell structures. To test this model empirically, we performed experiments with cultured osteoblasts to measure changes in cell shape resulting from hypergravity loading.
Document ID
20010097902
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Globus, Ruth K.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Steele, Charles R.
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA United States)
Searby, Nancy D.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 16, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: BED
Volume: 50
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference
Country: Unknown
Start Date: June 27, 2001
End Date: July 1, 2001
Sponsors: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-4625
CONTRACT_GRANT: 99-HEDS-02-062
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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