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Maturation of bone and dentin matrices in rats flown on the Soviet biosatellite Cosmos 1887We have studied the chemistry, hydroxyapatite crystal size, and maturational changes in bone and dentin from rats exposed to microgravity for 12 days in a Soviet biosatellite (Cosmos 1887). Bone ash was reduced in vertebrae (L5) but not in the non-weight-bearing calvaria or mandibles. All tissues had a relatively normal percentage composition of Ca, P, and Mg. Nevertheless, flight rat calvaria and vertebral tissues tended to exhibit lower Ca/P and higher Ca/Mg ratios that any of their weight-matched controls groups, and gradient density analysis (calvaria) indicated a strong shift to the fractions lower specific gravity that was commensurate with impaired rates of matrix-mineral maturation. X-ray diffraction data were confirmatory. Bone hydroxyapatite crystal growth in the mandibles of flight rats was preferentially altered in such a way as to reduce their size (C-axis dimension). But in the mandibular diastemal region devoid of muscle attachments, flight rat bone and dentin were normal with respect to the Ca, P, Mg, and Zn concentrations and Ca/P and Ca/Mg ratios of age-matched controls. These observations affirm the concept that while microgravity most adversely affects the maturation of newly formed matrix and mineral moieties in weight-bearing bone, such effects occur throughout the skeleton.
Document ID
20050000891
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Simmons, D. J.
(University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston 77550)
Grynpas, M. D.
Rosenberg, G. 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
NASA Experiment Number COS 1887-33
unmanned
Cosmos 1887 Project
Non-NASA Center
Flight Experiment
NASA Program Flight
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal
short duration
NASA Discipline Number 00-00

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