Effect of cyclic AMP on cellular contractility and DNA synthesis in chorioretinal fibroblasts maintained in collagen matrices

Atorvastatin lowers portal pressure in cirrhotic rats by inhibition of RhoA/Rho-kinase and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

“…Isolated and culture-activated HSCs were loaded into collagen lattices as previously de- scribed. [31][32][33]35 Incubation with atorvastatin dose-dependently relaxed the contraction of HSCs in the 3-dimensional stress-relaxed collagen lattice model (Fig. 8).…”

“…The ability of HSCs to contract 3-dimensional collagen matrices was measured as previously described with slight modifications. 35 In brief, hydrated collagen gels were prepared using rat tail tendon collagen I (Becton Dickinson Labware, Bedford, MA) and adjusted to physiological strength and pH with 1 N NaOH and 10ϫ PBS, respectively, at 4°C. The collagen solution was mixed with a HSC suspension, so that the final solution resulted in a collagen concentration of 1.5 mg/mL and 250,000 cells/mL.…”

Fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and wound contraction

“…Tensile force was found to depend on an intact actin cytoskeleton (Bell et al, 1979;Bellows et al, 1982;Guidry and Griunell, 1985) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activity (Ehrlich and Griswold, 1984;Van Bockxmeer et al, 1984;Ehrlich et al, 1991).…”

Both Ca2+-dependent and -independent pathways are involved in rat hepatic stellate cell contraction and intrahepatic hyperresponsiveness to methoxamine

“…The ability of HSCs to contract three-dimensional collagen matrixes was assessed as previously described with some slight modifications (29). In brief, hydrated collagen gels were prepared using rat tail tendon collagen I (Becton Dickinson Labware, Becton Dickson, Bedford, MA) and adjusted to physiological strength and pH with 1 N NaOH and 10ϫ PBS at 4°C.…”