Cyclic stretch induces the release of growth promoting factors from cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts.

Growth factors and hormones may play an autocrine/paracrine role in mechanical stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Using an in vitro model of mechanical stress, i.e. stretch of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, we tested the involvement of growth factors and hormones in this process.