Table 3.

The average number of cells found within the field of view of each region of interest throughout the experimental time course. All regions initially contained a confluent layer of endothelial cells. As time progressed, the cell numbers fluctuated and bare patches were created. This was likely caused by exposure to flow separation and reattachment during disturbed flow which has been shown to affect cell death, proliferation and migration (Chien 2008; Chiu et al. 1998; Hsu et al. 2001). All values are mean ± s.e.m. and n was between 12 and 18

τ*, dyn cm−2	Day	Wide bend	Narrow bend	Large contraction	Small contraction	Branch	Expansion	Obstruction	Node	Straight
2.8	2	96±8	81±7	56±5	69±8	91±8	97±14	75±6	96±7	110±10
	4	61±6	49±7	35±8	33±6	51±6	62±10	55±8	67±6	51±8
	6	85±8	87±9	45±10	67±15	78±14	73±12	79±13	87±9	81±15
15.6	1	102±5	97±7	60±7	67±9	89±6	81±8	72±7	88±6	94±7
	2	101±9	130±8	56±7	72±12	135±4	89±9	92±5	98±11	92±11
	3	103±14	140±18	106±12	48±8	148±14	103±9	79±8	126±17	61±10
	4	61±11	96±8	47±4	19±3	115±16	54±12	134±13	73±16	18±5
	6	103±21	123±11	80±17	25±2	158±13	77±9	119±10	196±21	22±3