[The effect of weightlessness on erythrocyte resistance in vivo and in vitro]

Abstract

One of the significant changes developing in animals and humans in the space mission environments is a decreased volume of red blood mass. For the analysis of causes of this phenomenon it is reasonable to compare the data on erythrocyte resistance to hemolysis in vivo and in vitro obtained in the rat experiments on Cosmos biosatellites. After 18 to 22-day space missions, the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes in vitro in animal blood samples and the level of spontaneous hemolysis in vivo directly in the vascular bed of rat have been determined. To this end, an original method based on a quantitative determination of 14Co in the expired air following previous (prior to space mission) 2(14)C glycine labeling in vivo of erythrocyte 2 group has been utilized. In both cases there were a decreased erythrocyte resistance and an increased hemolysis level. During the studies in vivo these changes were significantly great. Inflight application of artificial gravity of 1 G prevented microgravity-induced changes in the characteristics of the erythrocyte life cycle. The changes in erythrocyte shape and membrane properties as well as the factors affecting the cells in vascular bed (altered concentration of fatty acids in blood plasma and others) are discussed as possible causes of the above alterations.