ABSTRACT
Several biological objects were flown in Cosmos 782 in order to investigate the effects of HZE cosmic particles and other environmental factors of space. Space flight results in chromosomic aberrations in lettuce seeds, decreased germination rate and increased frequency of abnormalities in tobacco seeds and decreased developmental capacity in Artemia eggs. In lettuce and tobacco seedlings, changes were observed not only in seeds hit by heavy ions but also in nonhit seeds. The results indicate that exposure to the space environment can induce important changes in biological objects and emphasize the usefulness of investigations carried out on organisms less complex than mammals.
Subject(s)
Cosmic Radiation , Seeds/radiation effects , Space Flight , Weightlessness , Zygote/radiation effects , Animals , Artemia/growth & development , Artemia/radiation effects , Chromosome Aberrations , Extraterrestrial Environment , Germination/radiation effects , Heavy Ions , Larva , Lactuca/growth & development , Lactuca/radiation effects , Mitosis/radiation effects , Seeds/growth & development , Nicotiana/growth & development , Nicotiana/radiation effectsABSTRACT
In 1974, the USSR launched the biosatellite Cosmos-690 equipped with a gamma-irradiation unit that carried 35 rats. On the 10th flight day, the rats were exposed to radiation at doses of 220 or 800 rads. During the subsequent 10 d, radiation injury developed in a space environment. Similar ground-based experiments were carried out to simulate space flight environment effects. The results obtained were studied on a comparative basis. The conclusion is made that effects of a short-term space flight, as long as 20 d, do not essentially modify the radiobiological effect.
Subject(s)
Gamma Rays , Radiation Injuries, Experimental/etiology , Radiation, Ionizing , Space Flight , Animals , Bone Marrow/radiation effects , Cornea/radiation effects , Hematologic Diseases/blood , Hematologic Diseases/etiology , Hematopoiesis/radiation effects , Liver/radiation effects , Male , Rats , Testis/radiation effectsABSTRACT
In our previous studies on board the artificial earth satellite Cosmos 368, the cosmic apparatus Zond 8 and the orbital station Salyut it has been demonstrated that space-flight factors (SFF) have a definite effect on poorly active biological systems, such as dry lettuce seeds. The technical possibilities on board the biosatellite Cosmos 782 (the availability of an on-board centrifuge) allowed us to obtain some new data concerning the mechanisms of the SFF effects. Irradiated seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were exposed in space flight for 22 days either to weightlessness conditions only or to a centrifugal field. Data have been obtained characterizing the cytogenetical and physiological processes in seeds of various series of the experiment. An attempt is made to analyse the role of individual SFF in the changes observed.
Subject(s)
Gravity, Altered , Lactuca/growth & development , Lactuca/radiation effects , Seeds/radiation effects , Space Flight , Weightlessness , Centrifugation , Chromosome Aberrations , Gamma Rays , Germination/physiology , Lactuca/genetics , Mutation , Radiation Tolerance , Seeds/genetics , Seeds/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Preliminary results of the radiobiological experiments carried out on the biosatellite Cosmos 690 with a radiation exposure unit on board are presented. The duration of the satellite flight was 20.5 days. On the tenth day of the flight 35 rats were exposed on board the satellite to 220 or 800 rads of gamma radiation. Comparison of data obtained in test and control groups of animals has shown that under the influence of space flight factors a somewhat more severe radiation injury develops than in on-ground conditions.
