title: Effect of Culture in Simulated Microgravity on the Development of Mouse Embryonic Testes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  All known organisms develop and evolve in the presence of gravitational force, and it is evident that gravity has a significant influence on organism physiology and development. Microgravity is known to affect gene expression, enzyme activity, cytoskeleton organization, mitotic proliferation and intracellular signaling.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to study some aspects of the development in vitro of mouse embryonic testes in simulated microgravity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testes from mouse embryos (12.5-16.5 days post coitum, d.p.c.) were cultured in simulated microgravity and standard static culture conditions. The microgravity condition was provided by a Rotary Cell Culture System (RWV) bioreactor, an apparatus designated for 3D tissue and small organ cultures. After 48 h of the culture in the RWV, testis morphology and size was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first observation was that the culture in the RWV bioreactor had a beneficial effect on the testis growth and on the survival of germ cells in comparison to static 2D culture methods. Moreover, we found, that RWV culture caused disorganization the gonadal tissues, namely of the testis cords.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the maintenance of testis cord could be sensitive to microgravity. We hypothesize that while the effect on testis growth is due to a better nutrient and oxygen supply, the testis cord's disorganization might depend on the microgravity conditions simulated by the bioreactor. Considering the complexity of the processes involved in the formation of the testis cords and their dynamic changes during the embryo fetal period, further studies are needed to identify the causes of such effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowacki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Internal and Occupational Diseases and Hypertension, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Felici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014893:Weightlessness; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation / Q000379:methods*