Effects of microgravity on bone

Abstract

During space missions cosmonauts and astronauts suffer the effects of the absence of gravity. One of the most affected systems is the musculoskeletal with marked loss of bone mass. To know the effects of microgravity is essential for promoting treatments and preventive measures. However, there is a limitation in the collection of data regarding the decrease of bone mass due to the reduced number of space missions. To meet this need, animal models are used. The hind limb unloading method generates loss of bone mass in rodents through the effects of unloading on the hind limbs. In this background, the purpose of this mini review is to briefly present knowledge about the results obtained at the moment with the space flights studies and the use of animal models to clarify the effects of microgravity on bone. In addition, we briefly comment on treatments designed to minimize bone loss in astronauts and cosmonauts.