Tension induced growth in cells

The generation of an effective method for stimulating neuronal growth in specific directions, along well-defined geometries, and in numerous cells could impact areas ranging from fundamental studies of neuronal evolution and morphogenesis to applications in biomedicine and nerve regeneration. Applied mechanical stress can regulate neurite growth. Indeed, earlier studies have shown that neuronal cells can develop and extend neurites with rapid growth rates under applied tensions imparted by micropipettes. In spite of these experiments there does not seem to be a satisfactory model in the literature that can explain this rapid growth under tension. In this discussion, we will propose such a model. The key idea behind the model is the modulation of microtubule polymerization rate by the tension in the cell membrane. Our model accounts for diffusive as well as active transport of monomers and the stiffness of the membrane and microtubules. We are able to account for the growth rates seen in experiments using reasonable parameters under the assumption that microtubule polymerization is diffusion limited and not reaction limited