Glomerular capillary pressure is thought to affect the structure and function of glomerular
cells. However, it is unknown whether podocytes are intrinsically sensitive to mechanical
forces. In the present study, differentiated mouse podocytes were cultured on flexible
silicone membranes. Biaxial cyclic stress (0.5 Hz and 5% linear strain) was applied to the
membranes for up to 3 d. Mechanical stress reduced the size of podocyte cell bodies, and
processes became thin and elongated. Podocytes did not align in the inhomogeneous force …