Adaptation of mouse skeletal muscle to a long-term exposure to altered gravity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19KK0253
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Matsumoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kawano Fuminori 松本大学, 大学院 健康科学研究科, 教授 (90346156)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 内田 貴之 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 講師 (00803561) ; 芝口 翼 金沢大学, GS教育系, 講師 (40785953)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-10-07 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 骨格筋 / エピジェネティクス / 宇宙 / 微小重力 / 運動 / 加齢 / 国際共同研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A long-term space flight experiments using laboratory animals are necessary for the development of the procedure to realize a manned long-term stay in space. The purpose of this international collaborative research was to participate in a one-month 3-G hypergravity environment exposure experiment. The main experiment was conducted in March 2023 and muscle samples were obtained, but are currently under analysis. In order to understand the similarities between hypergravity environments and exercise or aging, exercise training or aging experiments were conducted as a pilot study in Japan. As a result, we found that although the epigenetics caused by exercise and aging are similar, their functions are completely opposite. In terms of the amount of muscular activity, exercise training and aging are similar. However, the results of the present study suggested that the intensity of physical activity is important for maintaining the epigenetics in skeletal muscle.

Free Research Field

骨格筋生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨格筋機能の獲得・維持には重力に抗した活動が必要であるが、加齢に伴い重力下では活動が困難になることも事実である。研究内容の観点からは、筋活動という生理パラメータの中に強度など加齢には乏しい要因を抽出できた。国際共同研究の観点からは、宇宙ライフサイエンス研究は日本国内では規模が小さいことが当初の問題であったが、若手研究者が独自の研究フィールドを獲得でき、分野の発展にもつながる国際共同研究関係の構築ができたと確信している。