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Ultrastructure of skeletal muscle capillaries under conditions of space mission

A V Volodina1, O M Pozdnyakov

  • 1Laboratory of Pathomorphology, Institute of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow. niiopp@mail.ru

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|March 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Space travel causes muscle fiber atrophy and endothelial cell necrosis in rat capillaries. New capillary formation may be an adaptive response to these space mission-induced injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Space biology
  • Muscle physiology
  • Cellular biology

Background:

  • Space missions pose significant risks to skeletal muscle health.
  • Microgravity and radiation can induce cellular damage and atrophy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ultrastructural changes in rat skeletal muscle capillaries during and after spaceflight.
  • To identify cellular mechanisms of injury and adaptation in microvascular endothelial cells.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrastructural analysis of rat forepaw skeletal muscle capillaries.
  • Examination at specific time points: day 14 of space mission, and days 1 and 14 post-landing.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis and necrobiotic changes were observed in endothelial cells, leading to necrosis.
  • Muscle fiber atrophy was a significant finding associated with capillary damage.
  • Evidence of new capillary formation (angiogenesis) was detected post-flight.

Conclusions:

  • Space mission factors induce significant cellular damage, including apoptosis and necrosis, in skeletal muscle capillaries.
  • Muscle fiber atrophy is a consequence of these microvascular injuries.
  • Capillary formation represents a potential adaptive response to mitigate spaceflight-induced damage.

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