Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in mechanically stimulated adult rat cardiac fibroblasts

We examined extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activity in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CF´s) in response to tensile and compressive strains. Our equibiaxial stretch apparatus was utilized to apply mechanical stretch (1%, 4%, 6% and 10%) and compression (-6%) to cultured CF´s. Whereas equibiaxial stretching of CFs activated ERK in a time-dependent manner, compression led to inhibition of ERK activation. Thus, mechanical stretch and compression appear to be effective, differential regulators of ERK signaling in CF´s