Objectives:Previous research has shown that exposure to microgravity leads to changes in both human and animals' metabolisms. Some effects include a new homeostasis and alterations in energy, carbohydrate, lipid, fluid-electrolyte, and protein metabolism. This study investigates the metabolism of rhesus monkeys before, during, and after a fourteen day space flight.
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Approach:
Animals were injected with a dose of ketamine at 5 mg/kg of body weight before flight, several hours after landing, and during the readaptation period. Five minutes after injection, blood was drawn and the serum prepared. Using both the Wet-Test biochemical analyzer and dry slides, albumin, BUN, creatine, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, glutamate, dehydrogenase, calcium, phosphate, and bilirubin were measured.
Results:
The flight animals had a biochemical baseline within normal limits of similarly aged rhesus monkeys. At landing, total protein, BUN, albumin, and calcium content had changed significantly. Phosphate concentration was at the baseline level. Alkaline phosphatase, glutamate, alanine aminotransferase, dehydrogenase, creatine and bilirubin levels were unaltered at landing and remained the same during readaptation. From this, it can be concluded that the capsule was sufficient to comfortably support the animals for the fourteen day mission. Alterations in calcium level suggest that calcium usage changes in microgravity. Further analysis leads to the conclusion that carbohydrate metabolism was not altered significantly during flight.
Arnaud SB, Navidi M, Deftos L, Thierry-Palmer M, Dotsenko R, Bigbee A, Grindeland RE. The calcium endocrine system of adolescent rhesus monkeys and controls before and after spaceflight. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 282(3):E514-21, Mar 2002.
Hoban-Higgins T.M. et al.: Energy Metabolism of Macaca mulatta during Spaceflight. Journal of Gravitational Physiology, vol. 7(1), Jan 2000, pp. S145-S148.
Activity, enzymic, Alanine aminotransferase, blood, primate, Analyzer
Activity, enzymic, Alkaline phosphatase, blood, primate, Analyzer
Activity, enzymic, Glutamate dehydrogenase, blood, primate, Analyzer
Content, Albumin, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Bilirubin, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
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Content, Calcium, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Creatine, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Globulin, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Glucose, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Phosphate, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Protein, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory
Content, Urea nitrogen, in blood, primate, Clinical laboratory