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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Regulation of myofibrillar accumulation in chick muscle cultures - Evidence for the involvement of calcium and lysosomes in non-uniform turnover of contractile proteins

The effects of calcium on the synthesis and the degradation of individual myofibrillar proteins were investigated using primary chick-leg skeletal muscle cultures labeled with S-35-methionine (for protein accumulation experiments) or Ca(2+)-45 (for calcium efflux experiments). It was found that the turnover of individual contractile proteins is regulated nonuniformly by a calcium-dependent mechanism involving lysosomes. The results also indicate that contractile proteins are released from the myofibril before their breakdown to amino acids.

Silver, Geri↗
NASA NTRS1990

Experiment K-6-02. Biomedical, biochemical and morphological alterations of muscle and dense, fibrous connective tissues during 14 days of spaceflight

Findings on the connective tissue response to short-term space flight (12 days) are discussed. Specifically, data regarding the biochemical, biomechanical and morphological characteristics of selected connective tissues (humerus, vertebral body, tendon and skeletal muscle) of growing rats is given. Results are given concerning the humerus cortical bone, the vertebral bone, nutritional effects on bone biomechanical properties, and soft tense fiber connective tissue response.

Vailas, A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Atrophy of the soleus muscle by hindlimb unweighting

This paper reviews data derived from the animal hindlimb unweighting model. The review presents the following information about the unweighted soleus muscle: electromyogram activity, the amount and type of protein lost, capillarization, oxidative capacity, glycolytic enzyme activities, fiber cross section, contractile properties, glucose uptake, sensitivity to insulin, the rates of protein synthesis and degradation, the glucocorticoid receptor numbers, the responses of specific mRNAs, and changes in metabolic concentrations. Data of all these studies show that the stress response of the animal to hindlimb suspension is transient and minimal in magnitude (though somewhat variable) and that, after one week of unweighting, the animal exhibits no chronic signs of stress.

Thomason, Donald B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Influence of 7 days of hindlimb suspension and intermittent weight support on rat muscle mechanical properties

The effect of intermittent periods of weight support on a decrease in mass of the soleus (Sol) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles atrophied by hindlimb suspension (HS) was investigated in rats subjected to continuous HS for seven days or an HS plus intermittent (10 min every 6 hrs of slow walking on a treadmill) weight support (HS-WS). After 7 d HS, the Sol weight relative to body weight was 21 and 9 percent lower in Hs and HS-WS, respectively, than in control rats. Maximum tetanic tension/muscle mass ratio was significantly lower in HS than in controls; the HS-WS rats had values similar to controls, whereas the maximum tetanic tension/muscle weight was significantly elevated in HS-WS compared to controls. Contraction times were 25 percent faster in the Sol and unchanged in the MG of HS rats, indicating that a low-force short-duration exercise regime results in a significant functional recovery in the 'slow' Sol, whereas the 'fast' MG is less affected.

Pierotti, David J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Descending pathways to the cutaneus trunci muscle motoneuronal cell group in the cat

The descending pathways to the motoneuronal cell group of the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) of the cat were investigated by injecting H-3-labeled lucine into the brain stem, the diencephalon, or the C1, C2, C6, and C8 segments of the spinal cord, and examining fixed autoradiographic sections of the spinal cord and brain regions. Results demonstrate presence of specific supraspinal projectons to the CTM motor nucleus originating in the contralateral nucleus retroambiguous and the ipsilateral dorsolateral pontine tegmentum. Results also suggest that propriospinal pathways to the CTM motor nucleus originating in the cervical cord do not exist, although these propriospinal projections to all other motoneuronal cell groups surrounding the CTM nucleus are very strong.

Holstege, Gert↗
NASA NTRS1989

Descending pathways to the cutaneus trunci muscle motoneuronal cell group in the cat

Pathways involved in the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) reflex in the cat were investigated. Experimental animals were injected with tritium-labeled L-leucine into their spinal cord, brain stem, or diencephalon and, after six weeks, perfused with 10-percent formalin. The brains and spinal cords were postfixed in formalin and were cut into transverse 25-micron-thick frozen sections for autoradiography. Results based on injections in the C1, C2, C6, and C8 segments suggest that propriospinal pathways to the CTM motor nucleus originating in the cervical cord do no exist, although these propriospinal projections are very strong to all other motoneuronal cell groups surrounding the CTM motor nucleus. The results also demonstrate presence of specific supraspinal projections to the CTM motor nucleus, originating in the contralateral nucleus retroambiguous and the ipsilateral dorsolateral pontine tegmentum.

Holstege, Gert↗
NASA NTRS1990

A nonlinear model of the phasic dynamics of muscle activation

A phasic excitation-activation (PEXA) model is presented of the process of motoneuron excitation and the resultant activation and force development of a motor unit. The model input is an amount of depolarizing current (as when injected with an intracellular electrode), and the model output is muscle force. The model includes dynamics and nonlinearities similar to phenomena discovered experimentally by others: the firing rate response of motoneurons to steps of depolarizing current and the catch-like enhancement of force produced by overlapping motor neuron action potentials. The parameter values used in this model are derived from experimentally measured data and are expressed in physical units. Model predictions extend to published data beyond those used in generating the model parameter values.

Hannaford, Blake↗
NASA NTRS1991

Resolving Sensory Conflict: the Effect of Muscle Vibration on Postural Stability

The otolith-tilt reinterpretation hypothesis (OTTR) proposes that the central nervous system adapts to weightlessness by reinterpreting all otolith input as linear motion. While interpreting otolith input exclusively as linear motion is functionally useful in space, it is maladaptive upon return to Earth. Astronauts have reported experiencing illusory sensations during head movement which contributes to postural instability. The effect is assessed of muscle vibration in combination with a variety of sensory conflicts on postural equilibrium. The equilibrium of six healthy subjects was tested using the EquiTest sensory test protocol, with and without the confounding influence of triceps surea vibration. The data were analyzed with repeated measures with vibration, vision status, and platform status as independent variables. All main effects and an interaction between the presence of vision and platform sway referencing were found to be significant. Overall, a 4.5 pct. decrease in postural stability was observed with vibration. The trend of the difference scores between conditions with and without vibration suggests that vibration is most destabilizing when the triceps surea is able to change length during postural sway (i.e., conditions with a fixed support surface). The impact of sway referencing vision was virtually identical to that of eye closure, providing compelling evidence that sway referencing 'nulls out' useful cues about subject sway.

Layne, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Training-induced alterations in young and senescent rat diaphragm muscle

The effect of progressive treadmill exercise on oxidative capacity in three specific diaphragm muscle fiber types and on the capillary density of known fiber types was investigated in young (5 month) and senescent (23 months or older) rats. All animals were trained for 1 hr/day, 5 days weekly, for 10 weeks. Measurements of succinate dehydrogenase activity showed significant increases in all three fiber types in both the young and the senescent trained animals, compared with their sedentary controls. Fiber size and capillary density were not affected by exercise or age. The results demonstrate that the senescent costal diaphragm maintains its ability to adapt to an increased metabolic demand brought about by locomotor exercises.

Gosselin, Luc E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Rat soleus muscle fiber responses to 14 days of spaceflight and hindlimb suspension

Morphological and enzymatic responses in fibers of different types were studied in rats after 14 days of spaceflight onboard Cosmos 2044 or hindlimb suspension. Fibers were classified as fast-twitch, slow-twitch, or both fast- and slow-twitch on the basis of the type of myosin heavy chains (MHC). Data obtained indicate that during the 14 days of spaceflight or suspension the protein profiles of 9-14 percents of the slow-twitch fibers reconfigured from typical slow-twitch toward fast switch fibers, while all fibers were dramatically losing total protein. These results were consistent with the data obtained from Cosmos 1887 and Skylab 3. It is suggested that effects of spaceflight on skeletal muscle can be attributed to a dramatic reduction in the level and/or pattern of loading.

Ohira, Yoshi↗
NASA NTRS1992

Adaptation of fibers in fast-twitch muscles of rats to spaceflight and hindlimb suspension

The adaptation of single fibers in medial gastrocnemius (MG), a fast-twitch extensor, and in tibialis anterior (TA), a fast-twitch flexor, was studied after 14 days of spaceflight onboard Cosmos 2044 or hindlimb suspension. Quantitative myosin ATPase activities of single fibers were measured in flight and suspended rats. Each of the enzyme and size measurements were directly correlated within each fiber with respect to its qualitative myosin ATPase staining properties and its expression of fast, slow, or both myosin heavy chains (MHC). The percentage of slow- and fast-twitch fibers of the MG and TA were found to be unchanged. Mean fiber size of all fibers was unaffected after flight or suspension. The ATPase activity in the MG was higher in flight than in control or suspended rats. In comparison to Cosmos 1887 spaceflight, the adaptations in the muscle fibers of the MG were more moderate.

Jiang, Bian↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effect of insulin-like factors on glucose transport activity in unweighted rat skeletal muscle

The effect of 3 or 6 days of unweighting on glucose transport activity, as assessed by 2-deoxyglucose uptake, in soleus strips stimulated by maximally effective concentrations of insulin, IGF-I, vanadate, or phospholipase C (PLC) is examined. Progressively increased responses to maximally effective doses of insulin or insulin-like growth factor were observed after 3 and 6 days of unweighting compared with weight matched control strips. Enhanced maximal responses to vanadate (6 days only) and PLC (3 and 6 days) were also observed. The data provide support for the existance of postreceptor binding mechanisms for the increased action of insulin on the glucose transport system in unweighted rat skeletal muscle.

Henriksen, Erik J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Functional and cellular adaptations of rodent skeletal muscle to weightlessness

This paper describes the affects of microgravity upon three key cellular levels (functional, protein, and mRNA) that are linked to one another. It is clear that at each of these levels, microgravity produces rapid and substantial alterations. One of the key challenges facing the life science community is the development of effective countermeasures that prevent the loss of muscle function as described in this paper. The development of optimal countermeasures, however, awaits a clearer understanding of events occurring at the levels of transcription, translation, and degradation.

Caiozzo, Vincent J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Tissue-Engineered Skeletal Muscle Organoids for Reversible Gene Therapy

Genetically modified murine skeletal myoblasts were tissue engineered in vitro into organ-like structures (organoids) containing only postmitotic myoribers secreting pharmacological levels of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Subcutaneous organoid implantation under tension led to the rapid and stable appearance of physiological sera levels of rhGH for up to 12 weeks, whereas surgical removal led to its rapid disappearance. Reversible delivery of bioactive compounds from postmitotic cells in tissue engineered organs has several advantages over other forms of muscle gene therapy.

Vandenburgh, Herman↗
NASA NTRS1997

Simulated Hypergravity Alters Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Motility

The cellular effects of gravity are poorly understood due to its constancy and nonavailability of altered gravitational models. Such an understanding is crucial for prolonged space flights. In these studies, we assessed the influence of centrifugation at 6G (HGrav) on vascular smooth muscle (SMC) mobility and proliferation. Cells were: (a) plated at low density and subjected to HGrav for 24-72 hr for proliferation studies, or (b) grown to confluency, subjected to HGrav, mechanically denuded and monitored for cell movement into the denuded area. Controls were maintained under normogravity. SMC showed a 50% inhibition of growth under HGrav and 10% serum; HGrav and low serum resulted in greater growth inhibition. The rate of movement of SMC into the denuded area was 2-3-fold higher under HGrav in low serum compared to controls, but similar in 10% serum. These studies show that HGrav has significant effects on SMC growth and mobility, which are dependent on serum levels.

Hunt, Shameka↗
NASA NTRS1995

Glucose Infusion into Exercising Dogs after Confinement: Rectal and Active Muscle Temperatures

Intravenous glucose infusion into ambulatory dogs results in attenuation of exercise-induced increase of both rectal and thigh muscle temperatures. That glucose (Glu) infusion attenuates excessive increase in body temperature from restricted activity during confinement deconditioning. Intravenous glucose infusion attenuates the rise in exercise core temperature in deconditioned dogs by a yet undefined mechanism.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Time Course of the Response of Myofibrillar and Sarcoplasmic Protein Metabolism to Unweighting of the Soleus Muscle

Contributions of altered in vivo protein synthesis and degradation to unweighting atrophy of the soleus muscle in tail-suspended young female rats were analyzed daily for up to 6 days. Specific changes in myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins were also evaluated to assess their contributions to the loss of total protein. Synthesis of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins was estimated by intramuscular (IM) injection and total protein by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of flooding doses of H-3-phenylaianine. Total protein loss was greatest during the first 3 days following suspension and was a consequence of the loss of myofibrillar rather than sarcoplasmic proteins. However, synthesis of total myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins diminished in parallel beginning in the first 24 hours. Therefore sarcoplasmic proteins must be spared due to a decrease in their degradation. In contrast, myofibrillar protein degradation increased, thus explaining the elevated degradation of the total pool. Following 72 hours of suspension, protein synthesis remained low, but the rate of myofibrillar protein loss diminished, suggesting a slowing of degradation. These various results show acute loss of protein during unweighting atrophy is a consequence of decreased synthesis and increased degradation of myofibrillar proteins, and sarcoplasmic proteins are spared due to slower degradation, likely explaining the sparing of plasma membrane receptors. Based on other published data, we propose that the slowing of atrophy after the initial response may be attributed to an increased effect of insulin.

Munoz, Kathryn A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Tissue-Engineered Skeletal Muscle Organoids for Reversible Gene Therapy

Genetically modified murine skeletal myoblasts were tissue engineered in vitro into organ-like structures (organoids) containing only postmitotic myofibers secreting pharmacological levels of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Subcutaneous organoid Implantation under tension led to the rapid and stable appearance of physiological sera levels of rhGH for up to 12 weeks, whereas surgical removal led to its rapid disappearance. Reversible delivery of bioactive compounds from postimtotic cells in tissue engineered organs has several advantages over other forms of muscle gene therapy.

Vandenburgh, Herman↗