Research of peculiarities of a water-electrolyte metabolism at the human in conditions of long-duration space flight

Technology Field:
BIO-BCH/Biochemistry/Biotechnology and Life sciences
SAT-MAS/Manned Space Station/Space
Principle investigator
Anatoly I. Grigoriev, Ph.D., Professor
Brief Description of Research
   Scientific material showing the peculiarities of a water-electrolyte metabolism at the human in conditions of space flight and in an antiorthostatic hypokinesia (antiorthostatic bed-rest) is at the moment accumulated in many researches. Basic information about these changes is received in experimental conditions, simulating some factors of real space flight (antiorthostatic bed-rest). There is the loss of an intracellular potassium owing to prevalence of catabolic processes and/or - because of reduction of ability of tissues to keep this ion in cells which are not numerous in scientific literature and research practice. The alterations of heart activity repeatedly marked at cosmonauts can be caused by change of a metabolism of potassium, however till now there were no systematic dynamic supervision over a level of blood potassium in conditions of space flight.
   Besides spent researches have allowed to reveal following most significant changes of a water-electrolyte metabolism: wave-like character of changes of a water-electrolyte homeostasis the nature of which requires study; change of volume regulating hormones' activity and of other biologically active substances, supervising a water-electrolyte homeostasis; development of negative balance of a calcium and osteoporosis; occurrence of the factors of renal stones formation's risk and of ectopic calcification of soft tissues and vessels.
   The novelty of offered researches is, to study a condition of a water-electrolyte metabolism and dynamics of blood electrolytes directly during space flight. It will give a possibility to reveal interrelation between changes of fluid shifts and hemocirculation in conditions of long-term stay in microgravity, and also to estimate renal stones formation's risk and influence of countermeasures on water-electrolyte homeostasis.

Legal Aspects
   No patents.

Special Facilities
  1. Device for the urine collection;
  2. Kit for a blood sampling;
  3. Barcode reader;
  4. Kit for consumables;
  5. On-board electrolytes analyzer.
Scientific Papers
  1. GrigorievA.I. - Ion regulatory function of the human kidney in prolonged space flights. Acta Astronautica, v. 8, 1981, N 9-10, pp. 987 - 993.
  2. Noskov V.B., Afonin B., Sukhanov Y., Kvetnansky R. - Hormonal control fluids and electrolyte metabolism during extended periods of weightlessness. - Stress: Neurochemical a. Humoral Mechanisms, N-Y, USA, 1989, v.2, p. 1031 - 1037.
  3. Natochin Yu., Grigoriev A.I., Noskov V.B. et al. - Mechanism of postflight decline in osmotic concentration of urine in cosmonauts. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. - 1991,v.62, pp.1037-1043
  4. Macho L., M.Fiskova, B.Lichardus, V.B. Noskov - Changes of hormones regulating electrolyte metabolism after space flight and hypokinesia Acta Astronautica - 1992, v. 27, pp.51-54.
  5. Noskov V.B., Grigoriev A.I. - Diuretic as means for rapid adaptation to weightlessness. Acta Astronautica, 1994, 32, No 12, pp.841-843.
  6. Hinghofer-Szalkay H.G., V.B.Noskov, J.Schmied et al. - Changes in blood and plasma composition with LBNP on the ground and in space in one subject. Aviat. Space Environ, Med. - 1994, v. 65 (3), pp.214-219.
  7. Kvetnansky R., Noskov V.B., L.Macho, Grigoriev A.I.- New approaches to evaluate sympathoadrenal system activity in experiments on Earth and in space. Acta Astronautica - 1994, v. 34, ¹ 12, pp.243-254.
  8. Leach-Huntoon C.S., A.l. Grigoriev, Yu.V. Natochin - Fluid and electrolyte regulation in space flight. American Astronautical Society Publication Carolina, USA, 1998.
Future Research Direction

Potential Application:
   In result of fulfillment of the project will be possible to estimate the importance of changes of water-electrolyte metabolism as of the factor influencing on heart activity, condition of metabolism and activity of other systems of organism in long-term microgravity, and also to estimate quantitatively renal stones formation's risk during long space flight. The results of research will find application in space medicine at in the operative medical control of a condition of health of cosmonauts and for correct use of countermeasures during long space flights, along with use in clinical practice.

Desired Budget:
   100 000 $ USA for scientific - organizational work for 3 years.
   150 000 $ USA for purchasing and development of the equipment and devices.

Additional information
   Research include the periodic collection of urine and withdrawal of venous or capillary blood at cosmonauts during long-duration space flight at realization of different functional loading tests and determination of mineral structure assembled. It should be done under the control of food and water intake.
   Functional loading tests for an estimation of a water-electrolyte metabolism and the functions of kidneys ( developed in IBMP);
  • Water-loading test;
  • Potassium loading test;
  • Calcium loading test;
  • Pharmacological hypohydrating test.
Concentration of the basic electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) in venous or capillary blood and in urine, and also contents of citrates and oxalates in a urine will be determined with use of on board analyzer.
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