AVIAN DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (ADF), TWO INVESTIGATIONS
Research Area: Animal Biology – Vertebrates
Expedition(s): 4
Principal Investigator(s): ● J. David Dickman, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
Texas
● Stephen B. Doty, PhD, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York,
New York
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
ADF-OTOLITH (DICKMAN)
The avian (bird) experimental model offers
opportunities to observe microgravity induced
changes in many systems, including the otolith,
cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, immunological
and neurological. The ADF-Otolith investigation
studies the formation of inner ear bones and
neurons (involved in the otolith system) under the
influence of microgravity.
ADF-SKELETAL (DOTY)
Under microgravity conditions, bones
demineralize, resulting in osteoporosis like (brittle
bones) conditions. The study of embryos that
develop in microgravity is an important piece of
the bone loss puzzle. ADF-Skeletal investigates
how the mechanism of bone formation during
development of the limbs in quail embryos could
provide basic information to help prevent bone
loss in crew members during long-duration missions.
EARTH BENEFITS
During embryonic development on Earth, the visual system, if deprived of light during the early
critical period, can be impaired or eliminated during maturation. In the vestibular system, which
controls normal postural, eye, and head movement responses during motion,
no efforts to study the effects of gravity upon development have been extensively performed.
Thus, it is currently unknown whether altered gravity environments affect vestibular system
development and subsequent reflex motor behavior. The research should provide basic
answers to questions related to vestibular receptor pathology that is known to occur with aging
humans and in some disease cases.
On Earth, fracture healing consists of cartilage formation, conversion of cartilage to a
temporary bony structure, and new bone formation involving osteoblast and collagen
synthesis. Furthermore, the healing of a bone fracture in the elderly is very slow and may not
result in a fully healed bone. In addition, significant populations of elderly adults suffer from
One of 2 Avian Development Facility (ADF)
carousels, each featuring 18 sample containers.
During space missions, one carousel rotates at
77.3 RPMs to simulate a 1g gravity field. The other
carousel remains motionless to provide a
microgravity environment for the specimens inside.
Besides eggs, the ADF can carry fish, plants,
insects or cells in its sample containers. NASA’s
Ames Research Center image.