Using lectin staining to detect changes in sialic acid of atrophied tissues
Start Date
1-8-2024 10:30 AM
End Date
1-8-2024 10:45 AM
Location
ALT 211
Abstract
Muscle disuse atrophy is common during space flight due to long-term exposure to spaceflight conditions such as microgravity. These rare spaceflight microgravity conditions significantly impact skeletal muscle by reducing muscle mass and strength. One method being explored to treat this is glycosylation. Glycosylation is the process by which carbohydrates are added to proteins and lipids. This process naturally occurs in various body parts to maintain a balance in protein functionality and cell-cell interactions. Glycosylation has been a topic of interest regarding whether its function can impact skeletal muscle atrophy and may be a potential prevention mechanism. This experiment aims to investigate the amounts of sialic acid in skeletal muscle under simulated space flight conditions. To simulate this, Wistar rats were subjected to hind limb suspension (HLS), which mimics the effects of microgravity. Meanwhile, a second (control) group was subject to normal loading to mimic Earth’s gravity. The tissues underwent a staining protocol with the lectins, PNA, WGA, MAA, and SNA which would determine whether there was a presence or absence of sialic acid. The tissues were analyzed to calculate mean fluorescence and normalized to the average cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers. This would lead to findings on abundance of sialic acid in atrophied muscles and the certain sialic acid linkages present in skeletal muscle. This information could help develop therapies to treat returning astronauts suffering from muscle atrophy.
Using lectin staining to detect changes in sialic acid of atrophied tissues
ALT 211
Muscle disuse atrophy is common during space flight due to long-term exposure to spaceflight conditions such as microgravity. These rare spaceflight microgravity conditions significantly impact skeletal muscle by reducing muscle mass and strength. One method being explored to treat this is glycosylation. Glycosylation is the process by which carbohydrates are added to proteins and lipids. This process naturally occurs in various body parts to maintain a balance in protein functionality and cell-cell interactions. Glycosylation has been a topic of interest regarding whether its function can impact skeletal muscle atrophy and may be a potential prevention mechanism. This experiment aims to investigate the amounts of sialic acid in skeletal muscle under simulated space flight conditions. To simulate this, Wistar rats were subjected to hind limb suspension (HLS), which mimics the effects of microgravity. Meanwhile, a second (control) group was subject to normal loading to mimic Earth’s gravity. The tissues underwent a staining protocol with the lectins, PNA, WGA, MAA, and SNA which would determine whether there was a presence or absence of sialic acid. The tissues were analyzed to calculate mean fluorescence and normalized to the average cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers. This would lead to findings on abundance of sialic acid in atrophied muscles and the certain sialic acid linkages present in skeletal muscle. This information could help develop therapies to treat returning astronauts suffering from muscle atrophy.
