Experiment

Experiment

A.011

Experiment

Effects of microgravity and mechanical stimulation on the in vitro mineralisation and resorption of fetal mouse long bones

Primary investigator

Veldhuijzen, J.P.

Co-investigator

Van Loon, J.J.W.A.

Contact point

VU-ACTA-DeptOralCellBiol

Category

Life Sciences

Main research area

Bone biology

Keywords

Tissue cultures
Bone
Mineralisation
Resorption
Disuse
Disuse osteoporosis
Cartilage

Abstract

Mechanical forces play an important role in the differentiation, growth and (re)modelling of skeletal tissues. An increase in the normal loading pattern of bone mass. An overall decrease in the functional load exerted on the skeleton produces mineral loss and .... (full text)

Objectives

The in vitro experiment 'Bones' will study the mineralisation (A0113806) and resorption of fetal mouse long bones (A0113801) under microgravity with and without mechanical stimulation (compression). The investigation aims at .... (full text)

Reference

ESA SP-271 pg. 173-178

Subject of investigation

The influence of the mechanical environment on bone and cartilage growth and differentiation.

Standard method

Tissue culture in gas permeable bags; in 5% CO2/air gasphase

Experiment procedure

The experiment is carried out in four Type I/O and four Type I/E (A0113804) Biorack experiment containers.
A one-way ball valve, fitted to the narrow side of each container, is used to flush the containers with a special gas mixture (5% CO2 in air) at the beginning of the experiment and again after two days. This gas.... (full text)

Results

In the 16 days old fetal mouse middle feet bones we found a drastic decreased mineralisation of the matrix under microgravity compared to the 1*g in flight of more than 50%.
In the 17 days old model we found a significant increased resorption of the mineralised matrix under microgravity compared to the 1*g in flight of nearly 50%

Experiment

IML-1 Biorack experiment BONES-02NL

Funding agency

SRON and NWO

Launcher

Space Shuttle

Platform

Spacelab

Mission

IML-1

Facility

Biorack

Duration

Microgravity time : 4 days
Culture time : 4 days
Crew time : 130 minutes

Equipment

Type I container with pressure sensor and one-way valve for flushing and pressurisation.

PROD (Pressure Read Out Device) for monitoring the increase in pressure during pressurisation
tool to turn splines inside Type I containers
syringe and connectingtubes for flushing and pressurisation
MEM tissue culture medium and additives
radioactive tracers: Ca, P, H-proline.

Success

Yes

Operational Constraints

Cultures were performed in the Biorack incubator at 36 °C.

Other parameters

Pressure data from the Type I/E containers, temperatures inside incubators

Pictures

Whole bone (metatarsal)

Exploded view Type I container

Close-up Type I container

Microscopic picture of mineralisation in fetal mouse long bones

Type I container opened

Type I container without bags

Resorption in long bone

Video

Introduction BONES experiment
Flushing the BONES experiment
Explanation of the experiment
Operations on Experiment containers
Pressurising the Experiment container

General

Related experiments:

Veldhuijzen on BION-10