Structural changes in arm muscles after microgravity.

Abstract

Disuse muscle atrophy is a well-known consequence of spaceflight. However, most of the available muscle data concern lower limb muscles of rats and primates exposed to microgravity aboard Russian Cosmos biosatellites and American Space Shuttles. The purpose of our study was, therefore, to provide information concerning the effects of a 14-day spaceflight on two upper limb muscles of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Our objective was to compare structural adaptations after 14 days of microgravity in a slow-twitch extensor muscle, i.e., the triceps, with a fast-twitch flexor muscle, i.e., the biceps. We hypothesize that muscle responses will be muscle specific, i.e., slow will differ from fast muscles, flexors will differ from extensors, and arms will differ from legs.