Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
A number mouse who are genetically engineered reportedly remained muscular throughout the station’s health experiments Outer Space International (ISS). Researchers say they have successfully blocked molecular signaling pathways to protect mice from losing muscle and bone density in a gravity-free environment.
The research results hope the researchers can use to develop therapies that can help astronauts reduce the muscle and bone mass loss experienced during long-term space flight.
Launch CNNResearchers are targeting molecular signaling pathways that can be used to help humans who experience muscle and bone loss due to conditions such as muscular dystrophy, osteoporosis, and diseases that cause muscle wasting such as cancer, heart disease, sepsis, and AIDS.
The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. NASA astronauts Drew Morgan, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir who participated in the experiment while on the space station were included as authors and researchers on the study.
Jackson Laboratory is known to have genetically manipulated the muscle growth of 40 female rats sent to the ISS. This was done to better understand how zero gravity affects the human body.
The rat is just one of many groups of rodents that have flown the space station over the years in the name of research.
The experiment was called Rodent Research-19 and it was used to study myostation and activin which are molecular signaling pathways that can influence and regulate bone density and skeletal muscle mass.
Pre researchers believe the pathway could be a target to prevent muscle and bone loss during missions and aid recovery efforts once astronauts return to Earth.
While at the ISS station, some of the mice were treated with the ACVR2B receptor agent, which actually blocked the pathway to see how it impacted their bone and muscle loss. Blocking that pathway has also been known to cause muscle and bone growth.
Because some of the mice were genetically engineered for myostatin deficiency, they had twice as much muscle mass as the so-called ‘mighty mouse’.
Launch Phsy, study leader Se-Jin Lee said 24 ordinary mice that were not genetically engineered experienced a considerable loss of muscle and bone mass in a zero-gravity state of up to 18 percent.
Meanwhile, the genetically engineered ‘mighty mouse’ launched with double muscles was able to maintain its shape. The mice’s muscles appear comparable to a similar ‘mighty mouse’ at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Researchers say a lot more work needs to be done before testing the drug in people to build muscle and bone, without serious side effects.
Previously, NASA and SpaceX managed to land rats on the ISS on Sunday (8/12). The 40 mice sent to the ISS will help scientists understand how muscles and bones function while humans are in space.
Eight of the 40 mice flown into space have undergone genetic modification.
(jps / DAL)
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