Fig. 9: Ca²⁺-induced cell contractility.

A Representative example VSMC circularity distribution under control conditions and after acute addition of ionomycin. B Increase in median VSMC circularity after acute addition of ionomycin. Results from 10 independent experiments. C WT VSMC circularity after exposure to the stressors before and after acute addition of ionomycin. Ca²⁺-induced contractility was estimated from the ionomycin-induced change in circularity relative to the baseline circularity. N = 10 plates with 6 wells for each condition. D Direct comparison of the cellular circularities before and immediately after addition of ionomycin from cells exposed to control conditions or metabolic stressors. E KO VSMC circularity after exposure to the stressors before and after acute addition of ionomycin. N = 8 plates with 6 wells for each condition. F Modeling changes in cellular circular due acute cell shortening ( = contraction) assuming an ellipsoid shape. In this case a 20% shortening leads to a change in circularity from 0.26 to 0.37, similar to the values observed in VSMC. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.