Mice spend 91 days in space to boost bone protection in astronauts

London, Apr 8 (ANI): A group of mice are back on earth after undergoing the longest animal mission in space, which aimed to find a way to prevent breakdown of bones in astronauts.

Bone cells either build up bone or break it down depending on their types. Breakdown cells in weight bearing bones become more active in situations like the microgravity experienced in space, when there is no impact on bones.

"Astronauts experience around 20 to 30 per cent bone loss," the New Scientist quoted Sara Tavella at the University of Genoa in Italy as saying.

She added that while astronauts take different steps to minimise such damage, its difficult to return the bone to its original state back on Earth.

To find ways to address this problem, Tavella's team sent six mice up to the International Space Station. Half of them were genetically modified to produce more of a protein involved in bone development, called pleiotrophin or PTN.

These mice were found to have lost only 3 per cent of the volume of their spine while normal mice suffered a 41.5 per cent decrease.

Tavella says the protein treatment could be investigated for astronauts preparing for space. (ANI)