PubMed1981
In the results of previous investigations we have already reported that cultures of Paramecium tetraurelia submitted to a space flight present a stimulation of their proliferative ability, an increase in cell volume and a decrease in dry weight and in total protein content. These results suggest changes of cell metabolism induced by the space environment. In order to confirm this hypothesis we have studied the concentration of extracellular electrolytes in the control and the in-flight culture media with respect to the intracellular content of the same electrolytes. These measures concern Na, Cl, K, P, Mg, Ca. In this paper we report the results of these analyses and note that if no differences are noted for Na and Cl between control and in-flight cultures, modifications in P, K, Ca and Mg levels are observed. Generally there is a higher concentration of these elements in the in-flight medium but, in contrast, a lower intracellular content is noted for in-flight Paramecia. We have established a double comparison: on the one hand between control and in-flight media and between control and in flight cells, on the other hand between media and cells. All these data suggest possible changes in the membrane permeability, or of the binding proteins in Paramecia cultivated in hypogravity.