Objective: To investigate the effect of simulated weightlessness on apoptosis of thymus cells in mice.
Method: Tail-suspended mice were used as an animal model of simulated weightlessness; chromosome breakage was measured by PI staining, and changes of cell membrane were determined by Annexin-V analysis.
Result: As compared with the control, there was no obvious chromosome breakage; the total number of apoptotic cells and number of early apoptotic cells increased in 1 d suspended group; the number of early apoptotic cells increased significantly and the total number of apoptotic cells increased very significantly in 2d suspended groups.
Conclusion: These results suggested that simulated weightlessness could promote apoptosis of thymus cells.