RESUMO
A hydrostatic compression device has been designed to study the effects of intermittent or continuous compressive forces on cells by trying to mimic in vivo forces. The model system is composed of two pistons that deliver and release compressed air under control of a motor to form an enclosed tissue culture chamber housing numerous tissues culture dishes. The continuous compressive forces and intermittent compressive forces are within 100-300 KPa and 0-30 KPa respectively. The compressive force is uniform in the system and can also result in the generation of shear forces along the interface between the cells and culture substratum, so the hydrostatic compression device can be used to study the characteristics of in vitro cells loading models.