Rat Muscle Health and Estrous Cycle Data Under Simulated Gravity Conditions

A NASA study of 120 male and female Fischer rats exposed to simulated microgravity (0g), Martian gravity (0.4g), and Earth gravity (1.0g) for 28 days. The data captures the influence of gonadectomy on muscle atrophy progression and estrous cycle changes, derived from cytology monitoring. The dataset was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling the relationship between estradiol levels and muscle loss based on estrous cycle phase data.
• Comparing musculoskeletal health trajectories between sexes under different gravity loads.
• Analyzing the impact of gonadectomy (castration/ovariectomy) on body weight and gastrocnemius muscle metrics.
• Investigating time spent in low-estradiol phases (diestrus, metestrus) as a response variable to simulated gravity.

Strengths

• Data from a controlled experiment with 120 subjects (rats) across three distinct gravity conditions.
• Includes specific, quantified outcomes such as ∼47% vs. 58% vs. 72% time in low-estradiol phases across gravity groups.
• Study conducted by NASA, a recognized authority in space and physiological research.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is provided in a BIN format, which may require specialized tools for access and analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Controlled laboratory experiment with hindlimb unloading and partial weight bearing.

Time Range

Experimental period of 28 days following a 2-week recovery from surgery.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 20:01:01.538122; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Laboratory study; no specific geographic coverage.