Altered Rodent Gait Characteristics after ∼35 Days in Orbit aboard the International Space Station

Publication date: Available online 8 November 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Andy Kwok, Samuel Rosas, Ted A. Bateman, Eric Livingston, Thomas L Smith, Joseph Moore, David C. Zawieja, Tom Hampton, Xiao W. Mao, Michael D. Delp, Jeffrey S. WilleyAbstractThe long-term adaptations to microgravity and other spaceflight challenges within the confines of a spacecraft, and readaptations to weight-bearing upon reaching a destination, are unclear. While post-flight gait change in astronauts have been well documented and reflect multi-system deficits, no data from rodents have been collected. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate gait changes in response to spaceflight. A prospective collection of gait data was collected on 3 groups of mice: those who spent∼35 days in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS); a ground-based control with the same habitat conditions as ISS (Ground Control; GC); and a vivarium control with typical rodent housing conditions (VIV). Pre-flight and post-flight gait measurements were conducted utilizing an optimized and portable gait analysis system (DigiGait, Mouse Specifics, Inc). The total data acquisition time for gait patterns of FLIGHT and control mice was 1.5-5 minutes/mouse, allowing all 20 mice per group to be assessed in less than an hour. Patterns of longitudinal gait changes were observed in the hind limbs and the forelimbs of the FLIGHT mice after ∼35 days in orbit; few differences were observed in gait...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - Category: Biology Source Type: research