Abstract
BackgroundNon‐motile primary cilia have been proposed to be mechanosensory organelles in chondrocytes, cholangiocytes, osteocytes, renal epithelial, pancreatic epithelial, endocardial, and vascular endothelial cells. We report here the dynamic structure of the biophysical property of cilia.Methods and ResultsUsing formvar as a flexible substrate, we record ciliary behavior for a period of time with a high resolution differential interference contrast microscopy. Under static conditions in the absence of fluid flow, we can observe that each well‐developed cilium contains a bulb in the middle of the ciliary shaft. In a less‐developed cilium, the bulb is less likely to be present. However, bending of cilium by mechanical fluid flow could induce the appearance of the bulb or bulbs within one cilium. Furthermore, fluid flow tends to dynamically move the bulb to the tip of the cilium.ConclusionWe propose that the dynamics of ciliary bulb is mechanically regulated. Ciliary bulb may therefore have sensory function within mechano‐ciliary structure.
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