INFLUENCE OF A STEADY LAMINAR SHEAR STRESS ON THE INTERNALIZATION OF LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS BY CULTURED BOVINE AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL CELLS.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) transport and receptor-mediated metabolism are believed to be key factors in atherogenesis. The purpose of this study was to establish a link between LDL-internalization and steady, laminar hemodynamic shear stress by subjecting cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) to a known shear stress in a parallel-plate, channel flow device. The present studies establish that the application of a laminar, steady wall shear stress to confluent BAEC cultures enhances the internalization of **1**2**5I-LDL. This effect appears to not be dependent upon prior shear-induced changes in cell shape and orientation, nor is it limited to the time period during which cell geometry is changing.