title: [Ultrastructural features of cultured rat cortical astrocytes with stretch-induced injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes of ultrastructural features of cultured rat cortical astrocytes after stretch-induced injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat cortical astrocytes isolated from 1- to 2-day-old rats were cultured till confluency, and then plated in tissue culture wells with flexible silastic bottom after purification. A computer-controlled device was used to produce stretch-induced injury in the astrocytes with the imposed pressure of 50, 150, and 250 kPa respectively, followed by observation of the ultrastructural changes in the astrocytes with light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obvious ultrastructural destruction of the astrocytes occurred when the imposed stretch pressure was 50 kPa, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated increased intercellular space and laceration of the cell body and its processes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondria swelling 1 h after stretch-induced injury and 6 h after the injury, vacuolar degeneration of the mitochondria occurred. Increased stretch pressure caused further decrease in the amount of glial filaments and densification of astrocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stress, even at a relatively small scale, can cause disruption of intercellular juncture and ultrastructural change of the cultured astrocyte, which may be related with extensive brain edema after traumatic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Wan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Song-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Zhi-Huan
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zheng-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pei-Fang
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kai-Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cheng-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Jin
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013314:Stress, Mechanical