Quantitation of rat hepatic stellate cell contraction: stellate cells' contribution to sinusoidal resistance

Research was conducted to examine the hypothesis that hepatic stellate cell (HSC) contraction and relaxation around the sinusoid control hepatic blood flow by regulating sinusoidal resistance. The objective was to directly quantitate contractile force development by HSC. Results provide evidence that the magnitude and rate of HSC contraction and relaxation are enough to modulate sinusoidal blood flow.