ANALYSIS OF 20 KEV ELECTRON INDUCED X-RAY PRODUCTION IN SKULL, FEMUR/TIBIA BONES OF RATS

Hind-limb suspension (HLS) of rats is a NASA validated model of simulated weightlessness. This study examines the effects of microgravity on the skeletal system of rats to assess whether or not exposure of rats to HLS for one week will induce alteration of structural features in selected bones. Four...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the 4th BioNanoTox and Applications Research Conference 2009-10, Vol.1229, p.73-79
Main Authors: Mehta, Rahul, Watson, Alec, Ah, Nawab, Soulsby, Michael, Chowdhury, Parimal
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Hind-limb suspension (HLS) of rats is a NASA validated model of simulated weightlessness. This study examines the effects of microgravity on the skeletal system of rats to assess whether or not exposure of rats to HLS for one week will induce alteration of structural features in selected bones. Four groups of rats were used: two unsuspended controls and two suspended groups. Body weight, food, and water intake were monitored daily before and after suspension. X-rays were measured by a liquid nitrogen cooled Si(li) detector on a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) that provided the 20 keV electron beam. X-ray data were collected from square cross sections between 100 um2 and 104 u.mz. The bones were measured for elemental levels of calcium, phosphorus, oxygen and carbon from both control and HLS rats. The average body weight of all HLS groups decreased compared to their respective unsuspended controls. Food and water intake was also lower in both suspended groups. A correlation among HLS and control samples in terms of the distribution of the primary elements was found in the bone tissue when analyzed as a function of position along the hind-leg and within the cross sections.
ISSN:0094-243X