Université McGill
UNDERSTANDING RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FLUID FLOW AND MECHANICAL STRAIN TO BONE ADAPTATION IN ALTERED GRAVITY.
Bone loss in astronauts is a major challenge for long-duration space exploration. In weightlessness, muscles are used less often, thus providing less stimulation of bone. Microgravity also induces fluid shift from the lower body towards the head, the role of which in bone loss is unclear. We aim to develop imaging, computational and pharmacological tools to examine contributions of fluid flow and mechanical strain to bone adaptation to mechanical environment using mouse models of mechanical loading and immobilization-induced unloading. Understanding the links between microgravity and bone adaptation will help to prevent bone loss in long-duration human space flights.