Artificial gravity with centrifugation as a countermeasure against alteration of gait motion properties and neural structure in rat exposed to microgravity environment

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K01451
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tajino Junichi 京都大学, 医学研究科, 研究員 (00755697)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 微小重力 / 遠心人工重力 / ラット / 歩行

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main purpose of this study was to explore countermeasure against non-use environments through application of artificial gravity using centrifugation.

When rats are exposed in (simulated) microgravity environment through unloading their hindlimbs by their tail, their walking motion is altered. Hyper gravity intervention using centrifuge during this period could prevent this motion change. However, it also came out that intervention at too high gravity might spoil this effect, which imply existence of the optimal dose of intervention.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

不動・不使用の環境が動作にまで影響を与えること、高重力介入によってそれらを抑制できることは、筋萎縮への対応など量的なリハビリテーションだけでなく、動作の質に対するアプローチが必要であることを示唆しています。また、本研究の成果は、リハビリテーション一般だけでなく長期宇宙滞在を視野に入れた宇宙医学にも応用が可能です。