Application of exercise and effect on musculoskeletal system in tail- suspension rats

Rats have been used for simulating study on human skeletal status to investigate the countermeasure of osteoporosis. Among the interventions, exercise is a safe and efficient one without side effects. Microgravity induced osteoporosis may occur when astronauts expose to space for a long duration. Rat tail-suspension model have been developed and broadly used to provide a ground-based system simulating certain biological effects of weightlessness. This paper reviewed the application of exercises in both non tail-suspension and tail-suspension rats, and summarized the studies in the field of exercise as a treatment of osteoporosis in rat experiments. Proper modes of exercises in simulated microgravity rats were discussed as well.