EXPERIMENT INFORMATION
Thermoregulation in Macaca Mulatta during Spaceflight (B11-09)
Species Studied
Scientific Name: Macaca mulatta Species: Monkey Strain: Rhesus
Objectives:Non-thermal effects of microgravity on the body, such as gravitational and postural unloading of skeletal muscles, changes in muscle structure and function, headward blood shift, and changes in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, may themselves cause thermal changes in the body. These thermal effects, such as changes in heat production, transfer, and release, may cause variations in body temperature and thermoregulatory disorders. This experiment examined the effects of microgravity on deep body temperature and skin temperature.
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Approach:
A thermistor implanted in the brain measured deep body temperature every 10 seconds. Thermistors attached to the leg, ankle, and head measured skin temperature every 10 seconds. Ambient temperature in the capsule was also measured at 10 second intervals. Flown monkeys (with the exception of #357) were used for post-flight control studies at R+17 and R+45.
Results:
Data were pooled across 6 Bion missions, using a total of 12 monkeys. In 8 out of 12 animals, a gradual decrease in mean deep body temperature (DBT) by 0.3-0.8 degrees Celsius was observed. DBT reached a minimum on flight days 4-8, then began to increase. Values of head temperature and leg temperature in space and on the ground were not significantly different. Out of the three skin temperatures measured, only ankle temperature (Tank) suggested that the skin region participates in physiologically controlled heat release; Tank usually varied inversely to DBT. An unusually high Tank increase versus DBT was seen at night during space flight; this may be due to blood redistribution in microgravity. Overall, the pooled data shows that the system of thermal regulation is adequate to support the normal range of DBT, even during high ambient temperatures.
Klimovitsky, V.Y. et al.: Thermal Regulation in Macaca mulatta during Space Flight. Journal of Gravitational Physiology, vol. 7(1), Jan 2000, pp. S149-S152.
Data Availability
Archive is complete. No data sets are available for this experiment. Please
Contact LSDA if you know of available data for this investigation.
Temperature, Ankle, primate, Sensor, recorder, computer
Temperature, Brain, primate, Implanted sensor, recorder, computer
Temperature, Head, primate, Sensor, recorder, computer
Temperature, Leg, primate, Sensor, recorder, computer
Temperature, regulation, Body, primate
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Temperature, Skin, primate, Sensor, recorder, computer
Mission/Study Information
Mission
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Launch/Start Date
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Landing/End Date
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Duration
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Bion 11
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12/24/1996
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01/07/1997
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13.5 days
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Managing NASA Center
Ames Research Center (ARC)
Responsible NASA Representative
Ames Research Center LSDA Level 3
Project Manager: Martha Del Alto
Institutional Support
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Alternate Experiment Name