[Histomorphometric analysis of the bones of rats on board the Kosmos 1667 biosatellite]

Bones of the rats flown on Cosmos-1667 were examined histologically and histomorphometrically. It was found that 7-day exposure to weightlessness led to osteoporosis in the spongy matter of proximal metaphyses of tibia and, although to a lesser extent, in the spongiosa of lumbar vertebrae whereas no signs of osteoporosis were seen in the spongy matter of iliac bones. Osteoporosis in the spongy matter of the above bones developed largely due to the inhibition of bone neoformation, which was indicated by a decrease in the number and activity of osteoblasts. Increased bone resorption (as shown by a greater number and activity of osteoclasts) was observed only in the spongy matter of tibial metaphyses. It is emphasized that a reduction of the number of highly active osteoblasts in spongy bones is one of the early signs of inhibition of bone neoformation and development of osteoporosis.