[Effect of simulated weightlessness on the apoptosis of thymus cells in tail-suspended mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of simulated weightlessness on apoptosis of thymus cells in mice.


METHODS
Tail-suspended mice were used as an animal model of simulated weightlessness; chromosome breakage was measured by PI staining, and changes of cell membrane were determined by Annexin-V analysis.


RESULTS
As compared with the control, there was no obvious chromosome breakage; the total number of apoptotic cells and number of early apoptotic cells increased in 1 d suspended group; the number of early apoptotic cells increased significantly and the total number of apoptotic cells increased very significantly in 2d suspended groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that simulated weightlessness could promote apoptosis of thymus cells.
Zhang
H
H
Institute of Space Medico-Engineering, Beijing 100094, China.
Wang
T
T
Chen
J H
JH
Wen
X L
XL
Zhong
P
P
Song
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D051379:Mice; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
D017304:Annexin A5