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At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Dynamics of torsional optokinetic nystagmus under altered gravitoinertial forces.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of varying gravitoinertial forces on torsional optokinetic nystagmus during parabolic flights. Using the scleral search-coil technique, we measured the gain and phase lag of torsional optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) induced by a hemispherical visual display rotating about the roll axis either at constant velocity or sinusoidally at various frequencies during level flight, hypogravity, and hypergravity. Compared with level flight, there was a significant increase in slow-phase eye velocity during hypogravity and an increase in nystagmic frequency. An absence of well-developed torsional optokinetic afternystagmus was observed in all three gravity conditions. Other characteristics included a lack of a slow rise component. These data suggest that otolith inputs do affect torsional optokinetic afternystagmus suggests that the velocity storage pathways do not contribute significantly to the torsional OKN system in humans.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1992

Experimental changes in mineral content of juvenile mouse femora.

Juvenile laboratory mice were exposed to hypergravity (8 g), burrowing exercise, swimming to exhaustion, an anabolic steroid, and swimming and an anabolic steroid for 30 days to determine the variability of skeletal mineralization during growth. Changes in mineralization were correlated with changes in bending strength. Experimental mouse femora were loaded to failure in a cantilever beam configuration to determine bending strength, and ashed to determine total mineral content. Between experimental groups, mineral content ranged from 66.0 to 71.2% with the greatest change from the control being a 4.7% decrease in mineralization in the male swimming exercise group (P less than 0.001). Within two age-matched experiments, the first showed that the group with the greatest decrease in mineralization also had the greatest reduction in bending strength (P less than 0.001). The second age-matched experiment showed that the group with the greatest reduction in mineralization had bending strength greatly reduced (P less than 0.001). However, in this experiment, the weakest femora were in the anabolic steroid group that did not have the mineral content reduced. We conclude that (1) mineralization of juvenile mouse femora is extremely variable given varied conditions of exercise or loading; (2) mineralization of normal bone is decreased more often and to a greater extent than increased from normal exercise controls; (3) the decrease in mineralization seen here can decrease bending strength; and (4) the decrease in mineralization seen was not caused by a decrease in a mechanical loading but was probably due to a corticosterone-mediated psychological stress response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Blood vessel adaptation to gravity in a semi-arboreal snake.

The effects of vasoactive agonists on systemic blood vessels were examined with respect to anatomical location and gravity acclimation in the semi-arboreal snake, Elaphe Obsoleta. Major blood vessels were reactive to putative neurotransmitters, hormones or local factors in vessel specific patterns. Catecholamines, adenosine triphosphate, histamine and high potassium (80 mM) stimulated significantly greater tension per unit vessel mass in posterior than anterior arteries. Anterior vessels were significantly more sensitive to catecholamines than midbody and posterior vessels. Angiotensin II stimulated significantly greater tension in carotid artery than in midbody and posterior dorsal aorta. Arginine vasotocin strongly contracted the left and right aortic arches and anterior dorsal aorta. Veins were strongly contracted by catecholamines, high potassium and angiotensin II, but less so by adenosine triphosphate, arginine vasotocin and histamine. Precontracted vessel were relaxed by acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, but not by atrial natriuretic peptide or bradykinin. Chronic exposure of snakes to intermittent hypergravity stress ( + 1.5 Gz at tail) did not affect the majority of vessel responses. These data demonstrate that in vitro tension correlates with that catecholamines, as well as other agonists, are important in mediating vascular responses to gravitational stresses in snakes.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1988

Caloric stimulation during short episodes of microgravity.

Caloric testing was performed during parabolic flight at the NASA Reduced Gravity Facility in Houston, Texas. Six test subjects were stimulated with continuous unilateral air insufflation (25 degrees R), in a manner similar to the experiments performed in the extended weightlessness of orbital flight during the SL1 and D1 Spacelab missions. Nystagmus response was recorded by electro-oculography and eye video image. It was the purpose of the experiments to re-examine the apparent discrepancy between the disappearance of caloric nystagmus during short episodes of weightlessness and the finding that caloric responses can be elicited during periods of extended weightlessness. The present results agree with those of earlier experiments in that a prompt reduction of caloric nystagmus occurs on transition from hypergravity (1.8 G) to weightlessness. The time constant of nystagmus decay was estimated to be approximately 2-3s, a value which cannot be explained by cupular mechanics. A central gating mechanism involving the labyrinthine canal and otolithic afferents is proposed for the observed modulation of caloric nystagmus.

Caloric Tests↗
PubMed1977

Effects of increased earth gravity and estrone treatment on intact and healing avian radii.

Estrone, 0.4 mg administered daily for 7 days to developing chicks at 2 weeks post hatching, increased total mass and accelerated the rate of growth of the diaphyseal and proximal epiphyseal diameters of intact radii. Fractured radii of animals subjected to the same hormonal treatment displayed decreased bone weight but increased rate of growth of the proximal epiphyseal diameters and longer but thinner and lighter calluses. Two-week-old chicks, which had received no estrone, when exposed to a week-long 2g environment showed decreased intact bone weight and, with the exception of length of fracture callus, a reduction of all measured parameters of fractured bones. Estrone treatments of 0.4 mg administered daily to hypergravity-exposed animals over a week-long period resulted in greater length of fracture callus and increased rate of growth of the proximal epiphyseal diameter of both intact and fractured bones. The same treatments decreased weight and linear growth of fractured bones and width and weight of the fracture callus.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effect of altered gravity on the neurobiology of fish.

In vertebrates (including humans) altered gravitational environments such as weightlessness can induce malfunction of the inner ears due to a mismatch between canal and statolith afferents. This leads to an illusionary tilt because the inputs from the inner ear are not confirmed by the other sensory organs, which then results in intersensory conflict. Vertebrates in orbit therefore face severe orientation problems. In humans the intersensory conflict may additionally lead to a malaise commonly referred to as space motion sickness (SMS). After the initial days of weightlessness the orientation problems (and SMS) disappear as the brain develops a new interpretation of the available sensory data. The present contribution reviews the neurobiological responses, particularly those of fish, observed under altered gravitational states concerning behavior and neuroplastic reactivities. Investigations employing microgravity (spaceflight, parabolic aircraft flights, clinostat) and hypergravity (laboratory centrifuges as ground-based research tools) provide insights for understanding the basic phenomena, many of which remain only incompletely explained.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Translabyrinth electrical stimulation for the induction of immediate-early genes in the gerbil brainstem.

Brainstem immediate-early gene (IEG) protein expression was induced following applications of current to the labyrinth in unanesthetized gerbils. Electrode placement, stimulus polarity, current intensity and waveform, and anesthetics all significantly affect IEG expression patterns. Direct currents of different polarity applied across the labyrinth produced IEG expression in vestibular nuclei and inferior olivary neurons in patterns similar to those seen after hemilabyrinthectomy or hypergravity stimulation.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1982

Effects of simulated increased gravity on the rate of aging of rats: implications for the rate of living theory of aging.

Ever since Pearl proposed the rate of living theory of aging numerous studies have demonstrated its validity in poikilotherms. In mammals, however, satisfactory experimental demonstration is still lacking because an externally imposed increase of basal metabolic rate of these animals (e.g. by placement in the cold) is usually accompanied by general homeostatic disturbance and stress. The present study was based on the finding that rats exposed to slightly increased gravity are able to adapt with little chronic stress but at a higher level of basal metabolic expenditure (increased 'rate of living'). The rate of aging of 17-mth-old rats that had been exposed to 3.14 times normal gravity in an animal centrifuge for 8 mth was larger than of controls as shown by apparently elevated lipofuscin content in heart and kidney, reduced numbers and increased size of mitochondria of heart tissue, and inferior liver mitochondria respiration (reduced 'efficiency': 20% larger ADP: 0 ratio, P less than 0.01; reduced 'speed': 8% lower respiratory control ratio, P less than 0.05). On the other hand, steady-state food intake per day per kg body weight, which is presumably proportional to 'rate of living' or specific basal metabolic expenditure, was about 18% higher than in controls (P less than 0.01) after an initial 2-mth adaptation period. Finally, though half of the centrifuged animals lived only a little shorter than controls (average about 343 vs. 364 days on the centrifuge, difference statistically nonsignificant), the remaining half (longest survivors) lived on the centrifuge an average of 520 days (range 483-572) compared to an average of 574 days (range 502-615) for controls, computed from onset of centrifugation, or 11% shorter (P less than 0.01). Therefore, these results show that a moderate increase of the level of basal metabolism of young adult rats adapted to hypergravity compared to controls in normal gravity is accompanied by a roughly similar increase in the rate of organ aging and reduction of survival, in agreement with Pearl's rate of living theory of aging, previously experimentally demonstrated only in poikilotherms.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Amphibian egg cytoplasm response to altered g-forces and gravity orientation.

Elucidation of dorsal/ventral polarity and primary embryonic axis development in amphibian embryos requires an understanding of cytoplasmic rearrangements in fertile eggs at the biophysical, physiological, and biochemical levels. Evidence is presented that amphibian egg cytoplasmic components are compartmentalized. The effects of altered orientation to the gravitational vector (i.e., egg inversion) and alterations in gravity force ranging from hypergravity (centrifugation) to simulated microgravity (i.e., horizontal clinostat rotation) on cytoplasmic compartment rearrangements are reviewed. The behavior of yolk compartments as well as a newly defined (with monoclonal antibody) non-yolk cytoplasmic compartment, in inverted eggs and in eggs rotated on horizontal clinostats at their buoyant density, is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

c-fos and HSP70 gene expression in rat brains in high gravitation-induced cerebral ischemia.

Previous studies have shown that brief exposures of rodents to high gravitational forces (+Gz) in a specifically designed centrifuge cause global cerebral ischemia. In the present study, the effect of +Gz exposure to +22.5Gz for 15 to 60 s on c-fos and HSP70 gene expression was examined. Northern and RT-PCR analyses to total RNA isolated from brains of rats in different post-exposure times revealed a significant, time-dependent increase in the c-fos mRNA level which returned to near normal by 180 min. The HSP70 mRNA level was increased two-fold at 30 min post exposure, and remained elevated until 180 min. The transient stimulation of c-fos and HSP70 gene expression should serve as useful biomarkers for hypergravic stress on the brain. The present results should aid in design of future experiments in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the high +Gz challenges.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Ocular torsion before and after 1 hour centrifugation.

To assess a possible otolith contribution to effects observed following prolonged exposure to hypergravity, we used video oculography to measure ocular torsion during static and dynamic conditions of lateral body tilt (roll) before and after 1 h of centrifugation with a Gx-load of 3 G. Static tilt (from 0 to 57 degrees to either side) showed a 10% decrease in otolith-induced ocular torsion after centrifugation. This implies a reduced gain of the otolith function. The dynamic condition consisted of sinusoidal body roll (frequency 0.25 Hz, amplitude 45 degrees) about an earth horizontal and about an earth vertical axis (respectively, "with" and "without" otolith stimulation). Before centrifugation the gain of the slow component velocity (SCV) was significantly lower "with" otolith stimulation than "without" otolith stimulation. Apparently, the contribution of the otoliths counteracts the ocular torsion response generated by the semicircular canals. Therefore, the observed increase in SCV gain in the condition "with" otolith stimulation after centrifugation, seems in correspondence with the decreased otolith gain in the static condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

A model for vestibular function in altered gravitational states.

During evolution, the vestibular organ was made to serve mainly two purposes: 1) to guide eye movements during sharp turns, so that the point of fixation in the visual field can be kept steady, a function accomplished by the semicircular canal system and 2) to indicate the terrestrial vertical, so that upright posture and gait can be maintained even in the dark. The otolith system serves the latter purpose. Since the function of the semicircular canal system does not depend on gravity, it is not grossly disturbed by gravitational levels different from 1 g. The proper function of the otolith system depends entirely on the presence of a gravitational force vector of 9.8/m/sec2 directed towards the center of the earth. This system therefore malfunctions when the amplitude of the combined gravito-inertial load is different from 1 g and also when the direction of the sensed gravitational pull is "contaminated" by additional inertial reactive forces as during horizontal acceleration. The effect of such inertial stimulations is probably even stronger in a weightless environment, in which case the background stimulation of terrestrial gravity is absent. Moreover, minor mass differences between the otolithic membranes of the left and right inner ear, even if well compensated on the ground, might lead to malcompensation in weightlessness as well as in hypergravity. A hypothetical model is developed to describe in the central nervous system compensating mechanisms in hypo- and hypergravitational states. The "space-sled" is introduced as a new research tool and recommendations are made for a prophylactic training regimen to reduce or prevent space sickness.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Temporal regulation of global gene expression and cellular morphology in Xenopus kidney cells in response to clinorotation.

Here, we report changes gene expression and morphology of the renal epithelial cell line, A6, which was derived from Xenopus laevis adult kidney that had been induced by long-term culturing with a three-dimensional clinostat. An oligo microarray analysis on the A6 cells showed that mRNA levels for 52 out of 8091 genes were significantly altered in response to clinorotation. On day 5, there was no dramatic change in expression level, but by day 8 and day 10, either upregulation or downregulation of gene expression became evident. By day 15, the expression levels of 18 out of 52 genes had returned to the original levels, while the remaining 34 genes maintained the altered levels of expression. Quantitative analyses of gene expression by real-time PCR confirmed that changes in the mRNA levels of selected genes were found only under clinorotation and not under hypergravity (7 g) or ground control. Morphological changes including loss of dome-like structures and disorganization of both E-cadherin adherence junctions and cortical actin were also observed after 10 days of culturing with clinorotation. These results revealed that the expression of selected genes was altered specifically in A6 cells cultured under clinorotation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Fos expression in the vestibular brainstem: what one marker can tell us about the network.

Fos inducible transcription factor expression in rodent brains (rats and gerbils) during manipulations of vestibular input is reviewed. Stimuli included centripetal hypergravity, unilateral labyrinth lesion or semicircular canal plugging, rotational axis cross-coupling (Coriolis forces), high and low rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex gain adaptation, translabyrinth galvanic stimulation, pharmacological manipulation, and combinations thereof. Each type of stimulation elicited unique but partially redundant response patterns in the vestibulo-olivo-cerebellar (VOC) network that reflect the origin and interaction of the labyrinth inputs. On the basis of these patterns, a trained observer can predict what the animal experienced during testing; the patterns of VOC Fos expression reveal a trace of recent genomic activity. Based on principal component analysis, VOC network modules associated with lesion recovery, spatial representation and the calibration of gravity, and optokinetic influences are proposed. Probable and possible gene targets of the Fos protein are also reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The fetus cannot exercise like an astronaut: gravity loading is necessary for the physiological development during second half of pregnancy.

On the basis of published Magnetic Resonance Images and the values of the specific fetal and amniotic fluid weights, apparent weight of the fetus from the 18th week of gestation until term was determined. Up to the 21-22nd gestation week the fetus is in conditions similar to neutral floating, while after the 26th gestation week the apparent weight of the fetus is 60-80% of the actual weight. Decreased effect of the buoyant forces that affect the fetus in human species during the last trimester has a number of implications for the colonization of the solar system. During space flight it is impossible to apply the existing countermeasures against microgravity deconditioning of the muscular and cardiovascular systems to the fetus. Absence of gravitational loading during the last trimester of gestation would cause hypotrophy of the spinal extensors and lower extremities muscles, reduction in the amount of myosin heavy chain type I in the extensor muscles of the trunk and legs, hypoplasy and osteopeny of the vertebras and lower extremities long bones, and hypotrophy of the left ventricle of the heart muscle. Because of decreased capacity of postural and locomotor stability, acquisition of the gross developmental milestones such as sitting, standing and walking could be delayed. In the authors' opinion, only artificial gravity (rotating platform) during space flight will allow physiological development of the human fetus. Independency of offspring's of the guinea pig as regards locomotion and nursing increases probability of successful breeding in microgravity compared with rat offspring's, and make this species a candidate for future experiments under conditions of microgravity and hypergravity. Examining the gestation of this species in different gravities requires first the experimental determination of the amount of buoyant force to which the fetus is exposed in physiological conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Does gravity influence the early stages of the development of the nervous system in an amphibian?

As a result of previous studies using hypergravity (centrifuge) or virtual microgravity (clinostat), it was proposed that gravity was involved in embryonic development, i.e., in the establishment of the embryonic polarities and the body plan pattern which subsequently direct morphogenesis and organogenesis of the central nervous system and of sensory organs. Recent experiments were performed in space using sounding rockets and orbiting space-modules to ascertain whether gravity is indeed required for embryogenesis in Invertebrates and Vertebrates. Eggs fertilised in vivo or in vitro in microgravity showed some abnormalities during embryonic development but were able to regulate and produce nearly normal larvae.

Amphibians↗
PubMed1998

Role of gravity in the development of posture and locomotion in the neonatal rat.

This report describes the early motor behaviour in the neonatal rat in relation with the maturation of sensory and motor elements of the central nervous system (CNS). The role of vestibular information during the week before (E14-21) and the 2 weeks after (P0-15) birth will be considered. There is a rostro-caudal gradient in the maturation of posture and locomotion with a control of the head and forelimbs during the first postnatal week and then a sudden acceleration in the functional maturation of the hindlimb. At birth, the neonatal rat is blinded and deaf; despite the immaturity of the other sensory systems, the animal uses its olfactory system to find the mother nipple. Vestibular development takes place between E8 and P15. Most descending pathways from the brainstem start to reach the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord a few days before birth (reticulo-, vestibulospinal pathways as well as the serotonergic and noradrenergic projections); their development is not completed until the end of the second postnatal week. At birth, in an in vitro preparation, a locomotor activity can be evoked by perfusing excitatory amino acids and serotonin over the lumbar region. The descending pathways which trigger the activity of the CPG are also partly functional. At the same age both air stepping and swimming can be induced. Complex locomotion such as walking, trotting and galloping start later because it requires the maturation of the vestibular system, descending pathways and postural reflex regulation. The period around birth is critical to properly define how the vestibular information is essential for the structuring of the motor behaviour. Different types of experiments (hypergravity, microgravity) are planned to test this hypothesis.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

Differentiation of cartilaginous anlagen in entire embryonic mouse limbs cultured in a rotating bioreactor.

Mechanisms involved in development of the embryonic limb have remained the same throughout eons of genetic and environmental evolution under Earth gravity (1 g). During the spaceflight era it has been of interest to explore the ancient theory that form of the skeleton develops in response to gravity, and that changes in gravitational forces can change the developmental pattern of the limb. This has been shown in vivo and in vitro, allowing the hypergravity of centrifugation and microgravity of space to be used as tools to increase our knowledge of limb development. In recapitulations of spaceflight experiments, premetatarsals were cultured in suspension in a bioreactor, and found to be shorter and less differentiated than those cultured in standard culture dishes. This study only measured length of the metatarsals, and did not account for possible changes due to the skeletal elements having a more in vivo 3D shape while in suspension vs. flattened tissues compressed by their own weight. A culture system with an outcome closer to in vivo and that supports growth of younger limb buds than traditional systems will allow studies of early Hox gene expression, and contribute to the understanding of very early stages of development. The purpose of the current experiment was to determine if entire limb buds could be cultured in the bioreactor, and to compare the growth and differentiation with that of culturing in a culture dish system. Fore and hind limbs from E11-E13 ICR mouse embryos were cultured for six days, either in the bioreactor or in center-well organ culture dishes, fixed, and embedded for histology. E13 specimens grown in culture dishes were flat, while bioreactor culture specimens had a more in vivo-like 3D limb shape. Sections showed excellent cartilage differentiation in both culture systems, with more cell maturation, and hypertrophy in the specimens cultured in the bioreactor. Younger limb buds fused together during culture, so an additional set of E11.5 limb buds was cultured with and without encapsulation in alginate prior to culturing in the bioreactor. Encapsulated limbs grown in the bioreactor did not fuse together, but developed only the more proximal elements while limbs grown in culture dishes formed proximal and distal elements. Alginate encapsulation may have reduced oxygenation to the progress zone of the developing limb bud resulting in lack of development of the more distal elements. These results show that the bioreactor supports growth and differentiation of skeletal elements in entire E13 limb buds, and that a method to culture younger limb buds without fusing together needs to be developed if any morphometric analysis is to be performed.

Alginates↗