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Histomorphometric and electron microscopic analyses of tibial epiphyseal plates from Cosmos 1887 ratsPrevious studies have shown that the changes seen in the bones of growing rats exposed to microgravity are due in part to changes that occur in the growth plate during spaceflight. In this study, growth plates of rats flown aboard Cosmos 1887 (12.5-day flight plus 53.5-h recovery at 1 g) were analyzed using light and electron microscopy and computerized planimetry. The proliferative zone of flight animals was found to be significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) larger than that of controls, while the reserve and hypertrophic/calcification zones were significantly reduced. Flight animals also had more cells per column in the proliferative zone than did controls and less in the hypertrophic/calcification region. The total number of cells, however, was significantly greater in flight animals. No difference was found in perimeter or in shape factor, but area was significantly less in flight animals. Electron microscopy showed that collagen fibrils in flight animals were wider than in controls. Since the time required for a cell to cycle through the growth plate is 2-3 days at 1 g, the results reported here represent both the effects of exposure to microgravity and the initial stages of recovery from that exposure.
Document ID
20050000884
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Duke, P. J.
(University of Texas Health Science Center, Dental Science Institute Houston 77225)
Durnova, G.
Montufar-Solis, D.
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
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Number 00-00
Cosmos 1887 Project
STS-51B Shuttle Project
NASA Program Flight
unmanned
short duration
NASA Experiment Number COS 1887-2
NASA Discipline Developmental Biology
Flight Experiment
manned

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