Mechanical stimulation of a single cell in a cultured monolayer of airway epithelial cells initiates an intercellularly communicated increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) that propagates radically through adjacent cells via gap junctions, forming an intercellular Ca2+ wave. Mechanically-induced intercellular Ca2+ waves also occur in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. However, i...

Plant root growth is affected by both gravity and mechanical stimulation (Massa GD, Gilroy S [2003] Plant J 33: 435-445). A coordinated response to both stimuli requires specific and common elements. To delineate the transcriptional response mechanisms, we carried out whole-genome microarray analysis of Arabidopsis root apices after gravity stimulation (reorientation) and mechanical stimulation...

Articular cartilage, the load-bearing tissue in diarthrodial joints, is continually subjected to mechanical stimulation. Cartilage tissue consists of an extracellular matrix (ECM) and is sparsely populated by chondrocytes. Although chondrocytes comprise less than 10% of cartilage, these cells sense and respond to the mechanical stimuli. However, the effects of mechanical signals at the cellular...

Cell response to mechanical stimulation was investigated at a subcellular level in protonemal cells of the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L. by pressing a small part of the cell with a microcapillary. In cells receiving local stimulation, the chloroplasts moved away from the site of stimulation, whereas the nuclei failed to show such avoidance movement. Mechanical stimulation for a period as sh...

1. Microphonic and summating potentials were recorded extracellularly from lateral line organs in the suborbital canal of the perch in response to sinusoidal movements of canal fluid. 2. These potentials were changed in amplitude, shape and phase, relative to the mechanical stimulus, by electrical stimulation of efferent fibres in the lateral line nerve. 3. The receptor potential amplitude/stim...

PURPOSE To measure the increase in tear secretion evoked by selective stimulation of the different populations of sensory receptors of the cornea and conjunctiva by using moderate and intense mechanical, chemical, and cold stimuli. METHODS Six healthy subjects participated in the study. Tear secretion was measured in both eyes by the Schirmer's test conducted under control conditions and afte...

Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is one of the most common diagnoses in preterm infants. Severe and recurrent apneas are associated with cerebral injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Despite pharmacotherapy and respiratory support to prevent apneas, a proportion of infants continue to have apneas and often need tactile stimulation, mask, and bag ventilation and/or extra oxygen. The duration...

There is an increased risk of thromboembolism, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, fetal-wastage and congestive cardiac failure in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves. In order to have a good outcome, the care of such patients must necessarily be multidisciplinary and in a well- equipped centre with adequate support services .One such patient who had mechanical mitral and aortic valves re...

Several authors have recommended [1, 3, 8, 12] that the fetus be mechanically stimulated if the abdominal pregnancy CTG shows no accelerations. One expects the fetus to show a motor response to mechanical stimulation. Fetal movements expressed as accelerations in the abdominal CTG are considered to reflect "arousal" of the previously asleep fetus and are thought to be normal. An absence of such...