Bone ultrastructural changes in Bion 11 rhesus monkeys.

Iliac crest biopsies of Bion 11 monkeys were examined by electron microscopy. The flight samples contained a large number of inactive osteoblasts. Together with ultrastructural changes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, the predominance of inactive osteoblasts pointed to a lower rate of specific syntheses. Some osteoblasts were transformed to fibroblast-like cells. It was found that osteogenesis declined, osteoid mineralization changed, and fibrotic zones developed.