Bone Mineral Analysis of Rat Vertebrae Following Space Flight: COSMOS 1129.
Abstract
The mission of COSMOS 1129 was to investigate the effects of 18.5 days of microgravity and readaptation to earth's gravity for various organisms. This study describes comparative mineral/element content of vertebral centra for rats flown aboard COSMOS 1129 (F) and rats from a ground based synchronous control study (S). F and S rats were sacrificed on a predetermined readaptive schedule following actual or simulated spaceflight recovery (R) at r+0, R+6, and R+29 days. 947 cleaned individual vertebral centra were harvested from these animals and stored frozen in sterile distilled water to await analysis. In preparation for mineral/element analysis each specimen was dried, weighed and digested in nitric acid. The prepared samples were analyzed for Ca2(+), PO4(-), K, Na, Ba, Sr, Fl, Mg, Pb, Mn, and Y using either atomic absorption spectrophotometry or colorimetric analysis. Bone mineral/element content was then expressed as a percent of dry bone weight. The paper presents comparative mineral/element content data between F and S for various recovery times. The use of the rat model for further understanding microgravic osteopenia is discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA133178
Entities
People
- Clarence M. Oloff
- E. Paul France
- Leon E. Kazarian
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory