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Effects of spaceflight on rat humerus geometry, biomechanics, and biochemistryThe effects of a 12.5-day spaceflight (Cosmos 1887 biosatellite) on the geometric, biomechanical, and biochemical characteristics of humeri of male specific pathogen-free rats were examined. Humeri of age-matched basal control, synchronous control, and vivarium control rats were contrasted with the flight bones to examine the influence of growth and space environment on bone development. Lack of humerus longitudinal growth occurred during the 12.5 days in spaceflight. In addition, the normal mid-diaphysial periosteal appositional growth was affected; compared with their controls, the spaceflight humeri had less cortical cross-sectional area, smaller periosteal circumferences, smaller anterior-posterior periosteal diameters, and smaller second moments of area with respect to the bending and nonbending axes. The flexural rigidity of the flight humeri was comparable to that of the younger basal control rats and significantly less than that of the synchronous and vivarium controls; the elastic moduli of all four groups, nonetheless, were not significantly different. Generally, the matrix biochemistry of the mid-diaphysial cross sections showed no differences among groups. Thus, the spaceflight differences in humeral mechanical strength and flexural rigidity were probably a result of the differences in humeral geometry rather than material properties.
Document ID
20050000883
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Vailas, A. C.
(University of California Los Angeles 90024-1568)
Zernicke, R. F.
Grindeland, R. E.
Kaplansky, A.
Durnova, G. N.
Li, K. C.
Martinez, D. A.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0892-6638
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: RR7009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Number 26-10
NASA Experiment Number COS 1887-26
Non-NASA Center
Cosmos 1887 Project
Flight Experiment
unmanned
NASA Discipline Number 00-00
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal
NASA Center ARC
short duration
NASA Program Space Physiology and Countermeasures
NASA Program Flight

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