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Exposure to hypergravity during zebrafish development alters cartilage material properties and strain distribution
Elizabeth Anna Lawrence1, Jessye Aggleton1,2, Jack van Loon3,4
1School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Bone & Joint Research
|February 9, 2021
Summary
Hypergravity exposure altered jaw cartilage mechanical properties and extracellular matrix composition in zebrafish. This suggests mechanical loading impacts chondrocyte maturation and cartilage development.
Area of Science:
- Skeletal biology
- Biomechanics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Vertebrates adapt to Earth's gravity, influencing tissue structure and function.
- Microgravity's effects on bone and muscle are known, but hypergravity's impact on development is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how hypergravity affects early cartilage and skeletal development.
- To use a zebrafish model to study hypergravity's influence on jaw cartilage morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish were exposed to 3 g and 6 g hypergravity from 3-5 days post-fertilization.
- Cartilage morphology, structure, and material properties were analyzed using histology, TEM, AFM, and nanoindentation.
- Finite element modeling was used to predict strain and stress distribution.
Main Results:
- No changes in larval growth, cartilage, or muscle morphology were observed.
- Altered mechanical properties of jaw cartilages were detected.
- Changes in chondrocyte morphology and extracellular matrix composition occurred in specific regions.
Conclusions:
- Hypergravity exposure alters mechanical loading, affecting chondrocyte maturation and extracellular matrix.
- These changes ultimately impact cartilage structure and function during development.
