Rapid activation of mechanotransduction pathways with applied cyclic tensile strain. (A) Expression of ROCK1 normalised to β-actin expression, as a function of strain cycle duration is rapidly downregulated in response to CTS (all at 10 % strain, 1 Hz). (B) MSCs in CG scaffolds showed a sequential increase in the ratio of active (phosphorylated) to total protein for ERK 1/2 (p/t ERK 1/2) and p38 MAPK (p/t p38), normalised to the ratio seen under static conditions, as a function of increasing time of applied CTS (10 % applied system strain, 1 Hz). Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3). a Significantly higher expression (p < 0.05) compared to other time points.