Effects of simulated weightlessness on fish otolith growth: Clinostat versus Rotating-Wall Vessel |
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Authors: | Sonja Brungs Jens Hauslage Reinhard Hilbig Ruth Hemmersbach Ralf Anken |
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Institution: | 1. German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Biomedical Science Support Center, Linder Höhe, D-51147 Köln, Germany;2. University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Zoological Institute, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany |
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Abstract: | Stimulus dependence is a general feature of developing sensory systems. It has been shown earlier that the growth of inner ear heavy stones (otoliths) of late-stage Cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is slowed down by hypergravity, whereas microgravity during space flight yields an opposite effect, i.e. larger than 1 g otoliths, in Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) and in Cichlid fish late-stage embryos. These and related studies proposed that otolith growth is actively adjusted via a feedback mechanism to produce a test mass of the appropriate physical capacity. Using ground-based techniques to apply simulated weightlessness, long-term clinorotation (CR; exposure on a fast-rotating Clinostat with one axis of rotation) led to larger than 1 g otoliths in late-stage Cichlid fish. Larger than normal otoliths were also found in early-staged Zebrafish embryos after short-term Wall Vessel Rotation (WVR; also regarded as a method to simulate weightlessness). These results are basically in line with the results obtained on Swordtails from space flight. |
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Keywords: | Inner ear Otolith Clinostat Rotating-Wall Vessel Cichlid Weightlessness |
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