The effects of short-term hypergravity on Caenorhabditis elegans.
As we seek to recognize the opportunities of advanced aerospace technologies and spaceflight, it is increasingly important to understand the impacts of hypergravity, defined as gravitational forces greater than those present on the earth's surface. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been established as a powerful model to study the effects of altered gravity regimens and has displayed remarkable resilience to space travel. In this study, we investigate the effects of short-term and defined hypergravity exposure on C. elegans motility, brood size, pharyngeal pumping rates, and lifespan. The results from this study advance our understanding of the effects of shorter durations of exposure to increased gravitational forces on C. elegans, and also contribute to the growing body of literature on the impacts of altered gravity regimens on earth's life forms.
Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, 50011 Ames, Iowa, USA. Electronic address: jenifers@iastate.edu.
Jenifer N
JN
Saldanha
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, 50011 Ames, Iowa, USA. Electronic address: pandey@iastate.edu.
Santosh
S
Pandey
Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, 50011 Ames, Iowa, USA. Electronic address: japc@iastate.edu.
Jo Anne
JA
Powell-Coffman
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D018471:Hypergravity; D008124:Locomotion; D012098:Reproduction
C. elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans; Hypergravity; Lifespan; Reproduction