title: An assessment of the long-term effects of simulated microgravity on cranial neural crest cells in zebrafish embryos with a focus on the adult skeleton.
abstract: It is becoming increasingly important to address the long-term effects of exposure to simulated microgravity as the potential for space tourism and life in space become prominent topics amongst the World's governments. There are several studies examining the effects of exposure to simulated microgravity on various developmental systems and in various organisms; however, few examine the effects beyond the juvenile stages. In this study, we expose zebrafish embryos to simulated microgravity starting at key stages associated with cranial neural crest cell migration. We then analyzed the skeletons of adult fish. Gross observations and morphometric analyses show that exposure to simulated microgravity results in stunted growth, reduced ossification and severe distortion of some skeletal elements. Additionally, we investigated the effects on the juvenile skull and body pigmentation. This study determines for the first time the long-term effects of embryonic exposure to simulated microgravity on the developing skull and highlights the importance of studies investigating the effects of altered gravitational forces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Edsall
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Tamara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Franz-Odendaal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology*; D013026:Space Flight; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development*