Orthostatic intolerance and motion sickness after parabolic flight.
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Because it is not clear that the induction of orthostatic intolerance in returning astronauts always requires prolonged exposure to microgravity, we investigated orthostatic tolerance and autonomic cardiovascular function in 16 healthy subjects before and after the brief micro- and hypergravity of parabolic flight. Concomitantly, we investigated the effect of parabolic flight-induced vomiting on orthostatic tolerance, R-wave-R-wave interval and arterial pressure power spectra, and carotid-cardiac baroreflex and Valsalva responses. After parabolic flight 1) 8 of 16 subjects could not tolerate 30 min of upright tilt (compared to 2 of 16 before flight); 2) 6 of 16 subjects vomited; 3) new intolerance to upright tilt was associated with exaggerated falls in total peripheral resistance, whereas vomiting was associated with increased R-wave-R-wave interval variability and carotid-cardiac baroreflex responsiveness; and 4) the proximate mode of new orthostatic failure differed in subjects who did and did not vomit, with vomiters experiencing comparatively isolated upright hypocapnia and cerebral vasoconstriction and nonvomiters experiencing signs and symptoms reminiscent of the clinical postural tachycardia syndrome. Results suggest, first, that syndromes of orthostatic intolerance resembling those developing after space flight can develop after a brief (i.e., 2-h) parabolic flight and, second, that recent vomiting can influence the results of tests of autonomic cardiovascular function commonly utilized in returning astronauts. (+info)
The Frog in Space (FRIS) experiment onboard Space Station Mir: final report and follow-on studies.
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The "Frog in Space" (FRIS) experiment marked a major step for Japanese space life science, on the occasion of the first space flight of a Japanese cosmonaut. At the core of FRIS were six Japanese tree frogs, Hyla japonica, flown on Space Station Mir for 8 days in 1990. The behavior of these frogs was observed and recorded under microgravity. The frogs took up a "parachuting" posture when drifting in a free volume on Mir. When perched on surfaces, they typically sat with their heads bent backward. Such a peculiar posture, after long exposure to microgravity, is discussed in light of motion sickness in amphibians. Histological examinations and other studies were made on the specimens upon recovery. Some organs, such as the liver and the vertebra, showed changes as a result of space flight; others were unaffected. Studies that followed FRIS have been conducted to prepare for a second FRIS on the International Space Station. Interspecific diversity in the behavioral reactions of anurans to changes in acceleration is the major focus of these investigations. The ultimate goal of this research is to better understand how organisms have adapted to gravity through their evolution on earth. (+info)
Carp experiment in space microgravity--a visual-vestibular sensory conflict model.
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In the 8-d flight mission of Spacelab-J (STS-47) conducted in 1992, behavior of the dorsal light response (DLR) and EEG activity of the cerebellum were intermittently examined for two carp, normal and otolith-removed. The latter carp had immobilization trouble caused by twisting of the EEG cable on day 2 inflight. The problem continued for the remainder of the experiment. Analyses made on the normal carp provided additional evidence in fish for sensory-motor disorder and readjustment during early phase of microgravity, thus supporting the sensory conflict hypothesis for space motion sickness. In the present report, why and how this space experiment was conducted were reviewed with a brief summary of the results. (+info)
Comparative measurement of visual stability in Earth and cosmic space.
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Three theories have been suggested as to the cause of space motion sickness: 1) eye and vestibular sensory mismatch, 2) abnormal shift of body fluids producing increased intracranial pressure and 3) pre-warning signals for unpleasant physical situations by self-produced neurotoxic substances released in the body. We are interested in the possible functional disabilities/incongruities of eye, head and body movements in 0-G. Space motion sickness might be explained from the viewpoint of lack of coordination of the movements of the eye and head. It is important to ascertain the significance of gravity in the maintenance of human visual stability. We will examine the coordination of Japanese Payload Specialist (JPS) eye and head movement by electrooculogram and neck muscle electromyogram recordings, as well as obtaining a subjective evaluation of visual stability from the PS during space flight. We hypothesize that 1) poor performance of the eye movement will be observed, 2) unusual neck muscle activity will be observed and 3) there will be decreased visual stability in micro gravity. We obtained all digital data and VCR taped image data in [TEXT MISSING] (+info)
Functional asymmetry estimated by measurements of otolith in fish.
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It is widely accepted that the incidence of space adaptation syndrome (SAS) is due to a mismatch of sensory information from various receptors to the central nervous system. We investigated the functional asymmetry of vestibular organ, which may caused sensory conflict in space, by measuring the weight difference of otolith between left and right side in goldfish and carp. In the goldfish utricular otolith, the maximum difference was 0.8 mg and the mean difference was 0.091 mg. The percentage of weight difference to the heavier otolith was calculated. The maximum difference was 20.57% and the mean was 3.035%. A difference exceeding 10% was found in only 2 goldfish. In the carp utricular otolith, the maximum percentage difference of weight was 24.8% and the mean was 3.491%. A difference exceeding 10% was found in only 3 carp. The maximum difference of saccular otolith was 11.8% with the mean of 6.92%, and that of lagenar otolith was 32% with the mean of 5.6% in goldfish. The close relationship of utricular otolith weight between both sides suggested that the otolith asymmetry might not be the main factor inducing SAS at least in goldfish and carp. (+info)
Cerebral hypoperfusion precedes nausea during centrifugation.
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INTRODUCTION: Nausea and motion sickness are important operational concerns for aviators and astronauts. Understanding the underlying mechanisms associated with motion sickness may lead to new treatments. The goal of this work was to determine if changes in cerebral blood flow precede the development of nausea in subjects susceptible to motion sickness. METHODS: Cerebral flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (transcranial Doppler), BP, and end-tidal CO2 were measured while subjects were rotated on a centrifuge (250 degrees x s(-1)). Following 5 min of rotation, subjects were translated 51.5 cm off-center, creating a +1 Gx centripetal acceleration in the nasal-occipital plane. RESULTS: There were 10 subjects who completed the protocol without symptoms while 5 developed nausea (4 while off-center and 1 while rotating on-center). Prior to nausea, subjects had significant increases in BP (+13 +/- 3 mmHg, p < 0.05) and cerebrovascular resistance (+46 +/- 17%, p < 0.05) and decreases in cerebral flow velocity both in the second (-13 +/- 4%) and last minute (-22 +/- 5%) before symptoms (p < 0.05). In comparison, subjects resistant to motion sickness demonstrated no change in BP or cerebrovascular resistance in the last minute of off-center rotation and only a 7 +/- 2% decrease in cerebral flow velocity. All subjects had significant hypocapnia (-3.8 +/- 0.4 mmHg, p < 0.05); however, this hypocapnia could not fully explain the cerebral hypoperfusion associated with the development of nausea. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that reductions in cerebral blood flow precede the development of nausea. Further work is necessary to determine what role cerebral hypoperfusion plays in motion sickness and whether cerebral hypoperfusion can be used to predict the development of nausea in susceptible individuals. (+info)
Neurovestibular considerations for sub-orbital space flight: A framework for future investigation.
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Promethazine hydrochloride, Phenergan, is a phenothiazine derivative with antihistaminic (H1), sedative, antiemetic, anticholinergic, and antimotion sickness properties. These properties have made promethazine a candidate for use in environments such as microgravity, which provoke emesis and motion sickness. Recently, we evaluated carotid baroreceptor-cardiac reflex responses during two Space Shuttle missions 18 to 20 hr after the 50 mg intramuscular administration of promethazine. Because the effects of promethazine on autonomic cardiovascular mechanisms in general and baroreflex function in particular were not known, we were unable to exclude a possible influence of promethazine on our results. Our purpose was to determine the ground-based effects of promethazine on autonomic cardiovascular control. Because of promethazine's antihistaminic and anticholinergic properties, we expected that a 50-mg intramuscular injection of promethazine would affect sympathetically and vagally mediated cardiovascular mechanisms. Eight healthy young subjects, five men and three women, were studied at rest in recumbency. All reported drowsiness as a result of the promethazine injection; most also reported nervous excitation, dry mouth, and fatigue. Three subjects had significant reactions: two reported excessive anxiety and one reported dizziness. Measurements were performed immediately prior to injection and 3.1 +/- 0.1 and 19.5 +/- 0.4 hr postinjection. We found no significant effect of promethazine on resting mean R-R interval, arterial pressure, R-R interval power spectra, carotid baroreflex function, and venous plasma catecholamine levels. (+info)