Effects of silicone microgrooves on 3T3 fibroblasts

Ligament/tendon fibroblasts are aligned along collagen fibers in vivo. However, most cell culture studies have been performed on smooth surfaces, on which cells orient randomly. To develop a culture model that better simulates the in vivo situation, 3T3 fibroblasts were grown on microgrooved silicone membranes (MSMs). It was found that the cells on MSMs were aligned along the groove direction, and their actin cytoskeletons also became oriented in the same direction. In contrast, the cells on smooth silicone surfaces (SSMs) oriented randomly and their actin cytoskeletons had no apparent specific orientation. However, DNA synthesis and total protein content (TPC) of the cells on MSMs were not significantly different from those on SSMs (P>0.05). These results suggest that MSMs may be useful for more closely studying responses of cultured ligament/tendon fibroblasts to biomechanical stimuli.