Wound healing following injury to vascular smooth muscle cell cultures is modulated by culture under hypergravity.

Anticipated hazards for crewmembers in future long-term space flights may result in a variety of injuries including fractures, deep punctures or cuts. The microgravity environment of space may complicate the wound healing process. Myofibroblasts have been proposed to play a role in wound contraction; these cells develop from tissue fibroblasts sue fibroblasts develop numerous features found in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), ultrastructural features, expression of alpha-SM actin and microfilament bundles.

Influence of changes in gravity on the response of lung and vascular cells to ischemia/reperfusion in vitro.

Gravity and other physical forces (e.g., shear stress or mechanical stretch) will affect organ and cellular function, e.