Harvard Medical School - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Behavior

Mimicking a Space Mission to Mars Using Hindlimb Unloading and Partial Weight Bearing in Rats

Marie Mortreux¹, Daniela Riveros¹, Mary L. Bouxsein², Seward B. Rutkove¹

¹Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, ²Department of Orthopaedics, Harvard Medical School - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

By using an innovative ground-based analogue model, we are able to simulate a space mission including a trip to (0 g) and a stay on Mars (0.38 g) in rats. This model allows for a longitudinal assessment of the physiological changes occurring during the two hypo-gravitational stages of the mission.

Biology

Performing In Vivo and Ex Vivo Electrical Impedance Myography in Rodents

Marie Mortreux¹, Janice A. Nagy¹, Haowen Zhong¹, Dong-Min Sung¹, Holly A. Concepcion¹, Melanie Leitner², Laura Dalle Pazze³, Seward B. Rutkove¹

¹Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, ²Accelerating NeuroVentures, ³Charley's Fund

This article details how to perform in vivo (using surface and needle electrode arrays) and ex vivo (using a dielectric cell) electrical impedance myography on the rodent gastrocnemius muscle. It will demonstrate the technique in both mice and rats and detail the modifications available, (i.e., obese animals, pups).