Implications of mechanical stretch on wound repair of gastric smooth muscle cells in vitro

Gastric smooth muscle cells continually receive repetitive physical stretching by food storage, peristalsis and fasting contraction; therefore mechanical stretch can not be disregarded in gastric events. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of mechanical stretch on wound repair using a rabbit gastric smooth muscle cell sheet. Mechanical stretch was imposed on adherent cells on a flexible membrane in order to increase elongation by an average of 5% and 10%, respectively, at 5 cycles per minute after artificial wounding. Adherent cells not subjected to mechanical stretch served as controls. The restoration process was monitored by measuring wound size for 48 h. Proliferation was assessed by BrdU staining and the influence on the cytoskeletal system was assessed by actin staining. The speed of restoration was highest in controls and lowest in the 10% stretch groups. Proliferation was almost equal to that of controls in the stretch groups. Under the condition of mechanical stretch, stress fibers appeared weakened and the direction of fibers was not consistent but random. In conclusion, mechanical stretch inhibited the migration of gastric smooth muscle cells, leading to cytoskeletal dysfunction. It is suggested that physical stretch, such as mechanical stretch, might be an important factor in the process of gastric wound repair.