Vertebrates have adapted to life on Earth and its constant gravitational field, which exerts load on the body and influences the structure and function of many tissues. While the effects of microgravity on muscle and bone homeostasis are well described, the effects of shorter exposures to increased gravitational fields are less well characterized. Here, we exposed zebrafish to 3 and 6g hypergravity from 3-5 days post fertilization, when key events in jaw cartilage morphogenesis occur. We did not observe changes to growth, or morphology of cartilage or muscle. However, we observed altered mechanical properties of jaw cartilages. We model the impact of these material property changes using Finite Element Analysis and show strain distribution in the jaw is altered following hypergravity. In regions of predicted altered strain we observed local changes to chondrocyte morphology, suggesting altered gravity affects chondrocyte maturation, ultimately leading to changes to cartilage structure and function.

中文翻译：

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在发育过程中暴露于超重力环境会导致斑马鱼的软骨材料特性和应变分布发生变化。

脊椎动物已经适应了地球上的生命及其恒定的引力场，这会在人体上施加负荷，并影响许多组织的结构和功能。虽然已经很好地描述了微重力对肌肉和骨骼动态平衡的影响，但对重力场短时间暴露的影响的表征却不太清楚。在这里，当颌骨软骨形态发生中的关键事件发生时，我们从受精后3-5天开始将斑马鱼暴露于3g和6g超重状态。我们没有观察到生长的变化，软骨或肌肉的形态变化。但是，我们观察到颚软骨的机械性能发生了变化。我们使用有限元分析对这些材料特性变化的影响进行建模，并显示在超重力作用下颚中的应变分布发生了变化。