Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


'Mighty Mice' Stay Musclebound in Space, Seen as Boon for Astronauts

Associated Press

   CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - Bulked-up, mutant "mighty mice" held onto
   their muscle during a monthlong stay at the International Space
   Station, returning to Earth with ripped bodybuilder physiques,
   scientists reported Monday.

   The findings hold promise for preventing muscle and bone loss in
   astronauts on prolonged space trips like Mars missions, as well as
   people on Earth who are confined to bed or need wheelchairs.

   A research team led by Dr. Se-Jin Lee of the Jackson Laboratory in
   Connecticut sent 40 young female black mice to the space station in
   December, launching aboard a SpaceX rocket.

   In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
   Sciences, Lee said the 24 regular untreated mice lost considerable
   muscle and bone mass in weightlessness as expected -- up to 18%.

   But the eight genetically engineered "mighty mice" launched with double
   the muscle maintained their bulk. Their muscles appeared to be
   comparable to similar "mighty mice" that stayed behind at NASA's
   Kennedy Space Center.

.