Comparison of hypo- and hypergravity effects on skeletal muscle.

Numerous observations suggest importance of gravitational loading in regulating muscle mass. Thus, centrifugation is believed to be useful for preventing muscle functional and structural losses under microgravity conditions. The aim of the present work was to evaluate plasticity of skeletal muscle exposed to chronic hypergravity.

Effects of long duration +2G hypergravity on MHC distribution and maximal tension of rat m.soleus fibers.

Effects of long duration hypergravity on skeletal muscles are much less studied than effects of microgravity. For instance, it was revealed that hypergravity of 2 week duration induces decrease in cross sectional area (CSA) of slow fibers (SF), while their size remains constant, or increases. Exposure to +2G of 14 day duration results in decreased number of type I fibers, and in changed myosin heavy chain (MHC) profiles of rat hindlimb extensor muscle.