Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026

In Vitro Growth of Mouse Preantral Follicles Under Simulated Microgravity
Published on: December 17, 2017
The Impacts of Simulated Microgravity on Rat Brain Depended on Durations and Regions
Bo Chen1, Yu Shi Zhang2, George Li3
1School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Objective:
To explore the dynamic impacts of simulated microgravity (SM) on different vital brain regions of rats.
Methods:
Microgravity was simulated for 7 and 21 days, respectively, using the tail-suspension rat model. Histomorphology, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and the expression of some key proteins were determined in hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum.
Results:
21-day SM decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor and induced neuron atrophy in the cerebral cortex. Strong oxidative stress was triggered at day 7 and the oxidative status returned to physiological level at day 21. Inflammatory cytokines were gradually suppressed and in striatum, the suppression was regulated partially through c-Jun/c-Fos.
Conclusion:
The results revealed that the significant impacts of SM on rat brain tissue depended on durations and regions, which might help to understand the health risk and to prevent brain damage for astronauts in space travel.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect...
Impact of Groups on Groups
IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region
Impact
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
Frequency-dependent Selection
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region

