0.33 <i>g</i> mitigates muscle atrophy while 0.67 <i>g</i> preserves muscle function and myofiber type composition in mice during spaceflight

As human space exploration advances, understanding how different gravity levels affect skeletal muscle is critical for long-term health. Among the major organ systems, skeletal muscle is particularly sensitive to gravitational unloading, yet the gravity threshold required to maintain homeostasis remains unclear. Using the Multiple Artificial-gravity Research System aboard the International Space Station, mice were exposed to graded gravity levels, microgravity, 0.33<i>g</i>, 0.67<i>g</i>, and 1<i>g</i>, and their muscles were analyzed postflight. In the gravity-sensitive soleus, the cross-sectional area was preserved at 0.33<i>g</i>, while the slow-to-fast myofiber transition was partially suppressed at 0.33<i>g</i> and fully prevented at 0.67<i>g</i>. Functional measures, including forelimb grip strength and electrical impedance myography, indicated that 0.67<i>g</i> was sufficient to maintain muscle performance. Plasma metabolomics identified 11 metabolites with gravity-dependent changes, suggesting potential biomarkers for monitoring physiological adaptation. Collectively, these results identify 0.67<i>g</i> as a critical threshold for mitigating spaceflight-induced muscle atrophy and myofiber type transitions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2026-03-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aed2258
Primary Topic
Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

0.33 g mitigates muscle atrophy while 0.67 g preserves muscle function and myofiber type composition in mice during spaceflight

Akane Yumoto, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, Dai Shiba, Jennifer C. Coulombe et al.
Science Advances
Muscle Physiology and Disorders
article

0.33 g mitigates muscle atrophy while 0.67 g preserves muscle function and myofiber type composition in mice during spaceflight

Akane Yumoto, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, Dai Shiba, Jennifer C. Coulombe, Shunya Sadaki, S. Koshiba, Michito Hamada, Ryosuke Tsuji, Masafumi Muratani, Marie Mortreux, Jason Ciola, Risa Okada, Daisuke Kamimura, Hiroe Kobayashi, Dong‐Min Sung, Tatsuya Matsumoto, Akihito Otsuki, Takafumi Suzuki, Yuka Murakami, Seward B. Rutkove, Takashi Kudo, Maki Okada, Masayuki Yamamoto, Yuri Inoue, Ryo Fujita, Takuto Hayashi, Satoru Takahashi, Charles A. Fuller, Ryo Kurosawa, Mary L. Bouxsein
article en

Abstract

As human space exploration advances, understanding how different gravity levels affect skeletal muscle is critical for long-term health. Among the major organ systems, skeletal muscle is particularly sensitive to gravitational unloading, yet the gravity threshold required to maintain homeostasis remains unclear. Using the Multiple Artificial-gravity Research System aboard the International Space Station, mice were exposed to graded gravity levels, microgravity, 0.33<i>g</i>, 0.67<i>g</i>, and 1<i>g</i>, and their muscles were analyzed postflight. In the gravity-sensitive soleus, the cross-sectional area was preserved at 0.33<i>g</i>, while the slow-to-fast myofiber transition was partially suppressed at 0.33<i>g</i> and fully prevented at 0.67<i>g</i>. Functional measures, including forelimb grip strength and electrical impedance myography, indicated that 0.67<i>g</i> was sufficient to maintain muscle performance. Plasma metabolomics identified 11 metabolites with gravity-dependent changes, suggesting potential biomarkers for monitoring physiological adaptation. Collectively, these results identify 0.67<i>g</i> as a critical threshold for mitigating spaceflight-induced muscle atrophy and myofiber type transitions.

Science AdvancesVol. 12(11)
Northwestern University (US), Brigham and Women's Hospital (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US), Harvard University (US), University of Tsukuba (JP), Inserm (FR), University of Rhode Island (US), Tohoku University (JP), Université Paris Cité (FR), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JP), Institut Necker Enfants Malades (FR), Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center (JP), Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (JP), University of California, Davis (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Muscle Physiology and Disorders
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