CJEE

Chinese Journal of Electrical Engineering ›› 2023, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (1): 29-46.doi: 10.23919/CJEE.2023.000011

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Bioeffects of Microgravity and Hypergravity on Animals*

Guofeng Cheng1,2, Biao Yu1, Chao Song1, Vitalii Zablotskii3,4, Xin Zhang1,2,4,*   

  1. 1. High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL), HFIPS, CAS, Hefei 230031, China;
    2. Science Island Branch of Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China;
    3. Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18221, Czechia;
    4. International Magnetobiology Frontier Research Center, Science Island, Hefei 230031, China
  • Received:2023-02-03 Revised:2023-02-13 Accepted:2023-02-22 Online:2023-03-25 Published:2023-04-06
  • Contact: *E-mail: xinzhang@hmfl.ac.cn
  • About author:Guofeng Cheng received his B.E degree from Anhui Normal University in Wuhu, China in 2021. He is currently working towards his M.S degree at the Science Island Branch of Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology of China. He works presently on the bioeffects of moderately strong steady-state magnetic fields.
    Biao Yu, graduated from University of Science and Technology of China with a Ph.D. of Biology degree, under the direction of Prof. Xin Zhang. In 2022, he started postdoctoral research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei. His research interests are in the biological effects caused by static magnetic fields of different strengths and gradients. He is currently working on the basic theory of diabetes and exploring the mechanisms involved.
    Chao Song, graduated in 2015 from Bengbu Medical College with a Bachelor. He obtained his master's degree in 2019 at State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medical in Nanjing Medical University and his Ph.D. degree in 2022 at University of Science and Technology of China. In 2022, he started postdoctoral research in Xin Zhang' lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei. He is mainly interested in cellular responses and molecular mechanisms of moderate to high static magnetic fields. His research is focused on the bio-effects of static magnetic field on alcoholic liver disease, reproductive system, tumor, and diabetes, etc.
    Vitalii Zablotskii is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Physics Academy of Sciences of The Czech Republic, working in magnetism and biophysics. His main research activities focus on the study of magnetic field effects on living organisms, targeted magnetic drug and cell delivery as well as magnetic nanostructures and magnetic phase transitions.
    Xin Zhang, graduated in 2001 from Peking University Health Science Center with a Bachelor of Medicine degree. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in 2007 at Indiana University. In 2008, she started postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2012, she moved back to China as a Principal Investigator at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL), Hefei. The lab is mainly interested in cellular responses, molecular mechanisms and potential biomedical applications of moderate to high static magnetic fields, as well as low frequency magnetic fields. Lab website: http://xzhanglab.hmfl.cas.cn/.
  • Supported by:
    *National Natural Science Foundation of China (U21A20148) and Collaborative Innovation Program of Hefei Science Center CAS (2022HSC-CIP002).

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Abstract: Gravity alterations in space cause significant adaptive effects on the human body, including changes to the muscular, skeletal, and vestibular systems. However, multiple factors besides gravity exist in space; therefore, it is difficult to distinguish gravity-related bioeffects from those of the other factors, including radiation. Although everything on the Earth surface is subject to gravity, gravity-induced effects are not explicitly clear. Here, different research methods that have been used in gravity alterations, including parabolic flight, diamagnetic levitation, and centrifuge, are reviewed and compared. The bioeffects that are reported to be associated with altered gravity in animals are summarized, and the potential risks of hypergravity and microgravity are discussed, with a focus on microgravity, which has been studied more extensively. It should be noted that although various microgravity and hypergravity research methods have their limitations, such as the inevitable magnetic field effects in diamagnetic levitation and short duration of parabolic flight, it is evident that ground-based clinical, animal, and cellular experiments that simulate gravity alterations have served as important and necessary complements to space research. These researches not only provide critical and fundamental biological information on the effects of gravity from biomechanics and the biophysical perspectives, but also help in developing future countermeasures for astronauts.

Key words: Gravity, microgravity, hypergravity, bioeffects, static magnetic field (SMF)