MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATION OF FIBROBLASTS MECHANICALLY STRESSED IN A COLLAGEN LATTICE

The behavior of fibroblast-populated collagen lattices under mechanica l stress was studied, Lattice retraction was blocked to allow the appl ication of mechanical stress by contraction of the fibroblasts against the fixed ends of the lattice, The forces were modulated by varying t he collagen/fibroblast ratio and the amount of collagen fibrils produc ed, by which the forces were transmitted, Transmission electron micros copy showed several disturbances of fibroblast ultrastructure, with em pty and full vacuoles, lamellar bodies and signs of cytolysis. It is s uggested that the morphological alterations in the fibroblasts map con stitute a feedback reaction to the mechanical stress.