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Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

Physical exercise and control of posture are important for maintaining muscle mass and strength. In simulated or actual microgravity, postural or anti-gravity muscles undergo substantial atrophy because of prominent decrease in the gravity-dependent reflection activity. Our question is whether atrophy of muscles under the condition of microgravity also occurs in zebrafish and why their atrophy occurs in the microgravity.

Principal Investigator(s)

Atsuko Sehara-Fujisawa

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Developer(s)

Space Environment Utilization Center, Human Space Systems and Utilization Mission Directorate, Tsukuba-City, , Japan

Sponsoring Space Agency

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

Research Benefits

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

Expeditions Assigned

Information Pending

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Physical exercise and control of posture are important for maintaining muscle mass and strength. In simulated or actual microgravity, postural or anti-gravity muscles undergo substantial atrophy because of prominent decrease in the gravity-dependent reflection activity. Our question is whether atrophy of muscles under the condition of microgravity also occurs in zebrafish and why their atrophy occurs in the microgravity.



• We propose experiments that examine the gravity-dependence of skeletal muscles in zebrafish using the transgenic fish expressing GFP-labeled muscles and RFP-labeled cells interact with muscles, and revealed that the intensity of RFP is dependent on interaction with myotubes. First, we will investigate the effect of the microgravity on muscle mass and fiber morphology of the transgenic zebrafish. Second, we will trace recovery processes of muscle mass and functions after the exposure of zebrafish in microgravity. We then examine whether growth factors are required for the recovery process. Among growth factors that are known to be involved in the increase of muscle mass, we will focus on growth factors that increase by physical exercise.



• We propose experiments that examine the gravity-dependence of skeletal muscles in zebrafish using the transgenic fish expressing GFP-labeled muscles and RFP-labeled cells interact with muscles, and revealed that the intensity of RFP is dependent on interaction with myotubes. First, we will investigate the effect of the microgravity on muscle mass and fiber morphology of the transgenic zebrafish. Second, we will trace recovery processes of muscle mass and functions after the exposure of zebrafish in microgravity. We then examine whether growth factors are required for the recovery process. Among growth factors that are known to be involved in the increase of muscle mass, we will focus on growth factors that increase by physical exercise.



• We will be able to determine the dependence of functional and morphological recovery of muscle after the exposure in the microgravity on the growth factor by the treatment of zebrafish with growth factor inhibitors. We should clarify whether physical exercise and anti-gravity reaction share common growth factor signalings or not through these experiments.

Description

Physical exercise and control of posture are important for maintaining muscle mass and strength. In simulated or actual microgravity, postural or anti-gravity muscles undergo substantial atrophy because of prominent decrease in the gravity-dependent reflection activity. Our question is whether atrophy of muscles under the condition of microgravity also occurs in zebrafish and why their atrophy occurs in the microgravity. We recently found a transgenic zebrafish line in which red fluorescent protein (RFP) (+) cells ( we call these cells as “A-cells”) interact with muscles, and revealed that the intensity of RFP is dependent on interaction with myotubes. In this study, we propose experiments that examine the gravity-dependence of skeletal muscles in zebrafish using the transgenic fish expressing GFP-labeled muscles and RFP-labeled A-cells. First, we will investigate the effect of the microgravity on muscle mass and fiber morphology of the transgenic zebrafish. Second, we will trace recovery processes of muscle mass and functions after the exposure of zebrafish in microgravity. We then examine whether growth factors are required for the recovery process. Among growth factors that are known to be involved in the increase of muscle mass, we will focus on growth factors that increase by physical exercise. We will be able to determine the dependence of functional and morphological recovery of muscle after the exposure in the microgravity on the growth factor by the treatment of zebrafish with growth factor inhibitors. We should clarify whether physical exercise and anti-gravity reaction share common growth factor signalings or not through these experiments.

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Applications

Space Applications

The results of this experiment will give information to elucidate molecular mechanism of atrophy of muscles in the space flight.

Earth Applications

The results of this experiment will give information to develop pharmaceuticals of treat atrophy of muscles.

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Operations

Operational Requirements

 1) Aquatic Habitat should be assembled in the MSPR Work Volume before fish arrival and final checkout should be performed within 1 week before fish arrival.

2) Fish transfer to the Aquatic Habitat and experiment start should be performed within 24hrs after Soyuz docking.

3) Initial Fixation (RNAlater) should be performed within 24hrs after soyuz docking. Fixed samples should be stowed in freeze conditions.

4) After approx. 1.5 month (just before return soyuz as possible) from the experiment start, fish will be sampled and chemically fixed for the retrieval. Fixed samples should be stowed in refrigerated/freeze conditions.

5) Fish (alive condition samples) should be retrieved to containers for return within 24hrs before soyuz undocking.

6) Fish (alive condition samples) and fixed samples (stowed in refrigerated) will be retrieved by soyuz at ambient.

7) Fixed samples should be retrieved in refrigerated or freeze conditions by SpaceX.

Operational Protocols

Assemble the Aquatic Habitat in the MSPR Work Volume and perform checkout. Fish transfer to the Aquatic Habitat and experiment start (breed for approx. 1.5month). Fish sampled and chemically fixed for the retrieval. Fixed samples should be stowed in refrigerated/freeze conditions. Fish (alive condition samples) retrieve to containers for return. Disassemble and Stow the Aquatic Habitat.

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

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Imagery