This laboratory has developed and is continually refining a new technique to image soft tissues with high resolution microCT, which enables quantitative analysis of bone and soft tissues in the mouse knee.
In addition, how this bone loss translates to loss of functional bone strength is not known. While changes in the bone have been studied in this model, quantitative assessment of soft tissues is difficult due to limitations in spatial resolution of MRI imaging. One established animal model for simulating and studying the effects of microgravity is hind-limb unloading (HLU) in mice. The increased fracture and injury risks in astronauts could compromise a mission and hinder recovery upon returning to Earth. Degradation of the soft tissues is important because it leads to laxity and joint instability, which when combined with loss of bone strength, could amplify the risk of bone fracture and joint injury. cartilage, meniscus, ligaments), which are critical to the proper functionality of the joint. The disuse from unloading of the musculoskeletal system results in bone loss and could also degrade the soft connective tissues (i.e. During extended spaceflight missions, astronauts are exposed to a microgravity environment.
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