Involvement of mechanical stretch in the gelatinolytic activity of the fibrous sclera of chicks, in vitro.

Purpose: To investigate the role of mechanical stretch in the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in scleral fibroblasts of chick embryos.

Methods: Scleral fibroblasts derived from chick embryos were seeded onto flexible bottom culture plates, and subjected to a pulsatile stretch when the cells became subconfluent. After stretching, the cells and the conditioned medium were harvested.