Biological sample: The STROMA experiment investigates mice Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell (BMSCs).
STROMA experiment: BMSCs liquid culture is required by the scientists to study the bone marrow stromal cell differentiation and mesenchymal tissue reconstruction in microgravity. At a molecular level researchers look at the expression of markers in osteogenic differentiation.
Hardware performance: The EU is designed to allow a liquid culture of BMSCs cells plated on a solid support. Cells are activated, incubated, grown, and fixed in a fully autonomous way. The EU makes it possible analyses both on cells (at cytological and molecular level) and on the growth media (being the exhausted growth medium collectable). The STROMA EU can host different supports allowing different cellular types culture such as BMSCs, osteoclast, adult muscle fibers and umbilical vein endothelial cells (see missions below).