Studies in microgravity, simulated microgravity and gravity do not support a gravitostat

in Journal of Endocrinology
Authors:
Russell T Turner Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

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Adam J Branscum Biostatistics Program, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

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Carmen P Wong Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

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Urszula T Iwaniec Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

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Emily Morey-Holton Life Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA

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Correspondence should be addressed to R T Turner: russell.turner@oregonstate.edu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-20-0393
Volume/Issue:
Volume 247: Issue 3
Article Type:
Research Article
Page Range:
273–282
Online Publication Date:
Dec 2020
Copyright:
© 2020 Society for Endocrinology 2020
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The gravitostat is purported to function as a leptin-independent, osteocyte-dependent mechanism for regulation of energy balance. If correct, reduced activation of gravitostat signaling caused by prolonged sitting may contribute to obesity. The gravitostat concept is supported by reduced body mass in rodents following surgical implantation of weighted capsules. However, the procedure induces a confounding injury response. We, therefore, sought to confirm a gravitostat by decreasing (microgravity and simulated microgravity) or increasing (simulated gravity) weight using less invasive models (spaceflight, hindlimb unloading and centrifugation). We also evaluated changes in weight following non-surgical injury (radiation). Male rats (Wistar, Sprague–Dawley and Fischer 344) ranging in age from 5–12 weeks at launch and flown for 4–19 days in low Earth orbit exhibited slightly lower (4-day flight) or no difference (all other studies) in weight compared to ground controls. Rats subjected to inflight (1.0 G) or ground (1.04 G and 1.56 G) centrifugation during a 19-day mission did not differ in weight. In female rats (Fischer 344), spaceflight (14 days) did not alter ovariectomy-induced weight gain. Finally, hindlimb unloading resulted in weight loss in lean and obese mice. The aforementioned findings are inconsistent with outcomes predicted by a gravitostat namely increased mass during weightlessness and decreased mass when subjected to >1 G simulated gravity. Injury (dose-associated graded increases in radiation) mimicked the leptin-independent weight changes attributed to a gravitostat. Taken together, these findings do not support gravitostat regulation of energy balance and suggest injury/stress as an alternative mechanism for weight loss induced by weighted capsules.

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Print ISSN:
0022-0795
Online ISSN:
1479-6805
Copyright:
© 2020 Society for Endocrinology 2020
Page(s):
10
Article Type:
Research Article
Received Date:
14 Sep 2020
Accepted Date:
22 Sep 2020
Print Publication Date:
01 Dec 2020
Online Publication Date:
Dec 2020
Keywords:
spaceflight; hindlimb unloading; centrifugation; ionizing radiation; rodent

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