Influence of hypergravity on the development of monoaminergic systems in the rat spinal cord

We have investigated in this study the influence of a moderate hypergravity (1.8 G) on the development of monoaminergic projections to the spinal cord in the rat. Pregnant dams and their offspring were submitted to hypergravity from day 11 of gestation to postnatal day 15. Some animals were sacrific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research. Developmental brain research 1998-12, Vol.111 (2), p.147-157
Main Authors: Giménez y Ribotta, Minerva, Sandillon, Françoise, Privat, Alain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Centrifugation
Development
Female
Gravity, Altered
Hypergravity
Microscopy, Electron
Monoaminergic projection
Neurons - chemistry
Neurons - ultrastructure
Pregnancy
Rat spinal cord
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Serotonin - analysis
Space life sciences
Spinal Cord - chemistry
Spinal Cord - cytology
Spinal Cord - embryology
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Summary:We have investigated in this study the influence of a moderate hypergravity (1.8 G) on the development of monoaminergic projections to the spinal cord in the rat. Pregnant dams and their offspring were submitted to hypergravity from day 11 of gestation to postnatal day 15. Some animals were sacrificed at birth, other at postnatal day 15 and other after 8 months of normal gravity. In newborn animals, a substantial delay of the development of monoaminergic projections to the spinal cord was evidenced. In 15 days and 8 months animals, the pattern of innervation appeared anarchic, with numerous dystrophic profiles, mainly of serotonergic system. Ultrastructural examination of serotonergic projections revealed a paucity of synapses, and the frequent enveloping of serotonergic boutons by thin astrocytic profiles. We conclude that rats submitted to hypergravity during the critical period of onset of monoaminergic projections to the spinal cord are affected durably in the organization and the ultrastructure of these projections. Future studies are directed to the functional analysis of hypergravity animals, and to the influence of microgravity on the same system.
ISSN:0165-3806
DOI:10.1016/S0165-3806(98)00132-1