Pressure Effects on the Morphology of Mammalian Cells

Living mammalian cells can be perturbed by high pressure in a continuous and controlled manner. The effects can be easily measured and quantified using the well-established method of Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS). ECIS is an electrical biosensor that quantitatively monitors behaviours of living cells including spreading and adhesion, micromotion and migration. Here we describe the experimental set-up of the pressure equipment and how ECIS is adapted to data collection under these conditions. Preliminary results suggest that high pressure affects the cell attachment and spreading and causes well-attached cells to round up. Results will be presented on the behavior of monolayers of BSC-1 cells upon application of pressures up to 2 kbars of nitrogen gas..