Figure 3.

Mechanical properties of single cells reach a steady state after spreading but are altered after cell displacement. (A) Contractile force increased during spreading and reached a plateau when spreading ceased. (B) The storage modulus and (C) loss modulus of a cell increased during spreading. Both moduli reached a plateau when the cell was no longer increasing its tension. (D) Normalized change in storage modulus after ramp and step displacements of the cell. (E) Normalized change in loss modulus after ramp and step displacements of the cell. (N = 9, 10, and 9, for the slow ramp, fast ramp, and step conditions, respectively; ^∗∗p < 0.1). Error bars represent standard error. To see this figure in color, go online.