Reproductive and locomotory capacities of Caenorhabditis elegans were not affected by simulated variable gravities and spaceflight during the Shenzhou-8 mission.

ABSTRACT: Reproduction and locomotion are essential features of animals that help to facilitate their interaction with the surrounding environment. Previous studies have produced inconsistent results on behavioral response to spaceflight by the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in liquid culture. Using standard agar-based nematode growth medium (NGM), we show here that both reproductive and locomotory capacities of C. elegans were not significantly changed by centrifuge-produced hypergravity or clinostat-simulated microgravity. To investigate the effect of actual spaceflight on C. elegans, a nematode test unit was specifically designed to maintain its normal growth on solid NGM slides and to allow automatic RNA fixation on board the Shenzhou-8 spaceflight. We did not detect alteration

SUBMITTER: Qiao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3713449 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature