Ground-Based Facilities at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine for Studies in Gravitational Biology

Abstract

Our group provides experimental platforms to simulate the conditions of microgravity on ground. Clinostats, a Random Positioning Machine and a Rotating-Wall Vessel have been adapted to allow investigations employing a variety of different model organisms like larval fish, plants, algae, unicellular organisms as well as adherent or suspended cells in culture. Different types of clinostats have been developed which meet a broad variety of experimental applications such as parallel operation of up to ten sample containments in a defined environment, their fixation during rotation, direct microscopical observation of samples and bioluminescence kinetic measurements within cell cultures. Various centrifuge devices complete our experimental scenario, enabling hypergravity studies from cells to humans. Part of our ground-based data has already been validated in the course of experiments carried out under real microgravity. Currently, our studies focus on the effects of simulated microgravity and real microgravity on macrophage signalling as well as stem cell development and differentiation (embryonic stem cells). Our results support the necessity of a ground-based facility program, which - at low costs in comparison to space flight - give scientists the opportunity to intensively prepare their space experiments and get sufficient and statistically reliable and relevant data. Furthermore, our ground-based facilities build an excellent baseline in preparation of ISS experiments, e.g. for BIOLAB.