Vascular endothelial cell proliferation in culture and the influence of flow.

The influence of laminar shear stress on cell proliferation was investigated for subconfluent bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers seeded on either glass or Thermanox. The effect of both steady and pulsatile shear stress was studied. For bovine aortic endothelial cells on Thermanox exposed to steady flow, shear stress levels greater than 15 dyne/cm2 resulted in a dose-related reduction in the rate of cell proliferation. At 90 dyne/cm2, the rate of proliferation was virtually totally arrested for 48 h, but then resumed. Pulsatile shear stress produced an exaggeration of the effect observed in response to steady shear stress. Bovine aortic endothelial cells seeded on glass, exhibited a similar but more sensitive response, with a significant reduction in growth rate observed after 24 h at shear stress levels greater than 5 dyne/cm2 and a near cessation of proliferation at 13 dyne/cm2.