Stimulus interval, rate and direction differentially regulate phosphorylation for mechanotransduction in neonatal cardiac myocytes

The effect of interval, direction and rate of strain on mechanotransduction in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes is determined for focal adhesion kinase (Y397pFAK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK1/2 (Thr183/Tyr185) and paxillin (pY31) and phosphorylation time courses to 10% strain assessed. Cells are non-responsive at 5 min but recover at 15 min (P < 0.03) with FAK nuclear translocation by 30 min. Cyclic biaxial strain increased phosphorylation from slower to faster rates (P < 0.05). Uniaxial strain to groove-aligned myocytes increased FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation transversely more than longitudinally (P < 0.05). Mechanotransduction may have a refractory period of 5 min and differentiate directions and rates of strain.