Differential adaptation to weightlessness of functional and structural characteristics of rat hindlimb muscles
Stevens, L.; Picquet, F.; Catinot, M.P.; Mounier, Y.
Journal of Gravitational Physiology a Journal of the International Society for Gravitational Physiology 3(2): 54-57
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-9248 PMID: 11540282 Document Number: 462591
Soleus, vastus intermedius, tibialis anterior, and extensor digitorum longus muscles were removed from rats following space flight onboard the SLS-2 mission and from control animals. Muscle tissues were studied for their calcium and strontium activated tension characteristics and for structural changes. Muscles were also examined for myosin composition using electrophoresis. Results indicate that changes occurred in structural and functional muscle characteristics in both slow and fast muscle fiber types. These results are detailed and discussed.