ABSTRACT
Light and scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphological parameters and ultrastructure of Helix lucorum statocysts and statoliths in Pomatias rivulare statocysts after 56, 93 and 110-day exposure to microgravity aboard the ISS. Increased gravity was simulated by 30-d centrifugation at 6 g. On the first day of recovery, many statoconia and statoliths were found to carry numerous warts. Moreover, statoconia grew in number significantly as compared with the ground control. On the contrary centrifugation caused massive destruction of statoconia. In a month after orbital flight and centrifugation morphology of both statoconia and stastoliths was nearly normal. These results evidence, that the gravitational field is an important factor for the abiotic medium responsible for building up the inertial mass in the equilibrium organ of animals.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological , Gastropoda/ultrastructure , Otolithic Membrane/ultrastructure , Space Flight , Space Simulation/methods , Animals , Centrifugation/adverse effects , Female , Gastropoda/physiology , Hypergravity/adverse effects , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Microscopy, Phase-Contrast , Otolithic Membrane/physiology , Space Simulation/instrumentation , Weightlessness/adverse effectsABSTRACT
To fly biological experiments aboard piloted orbital stations, research equipment was built up of an incubation container, filter system and automatic temperature controller. Investigations included analysis of the makeup and concentrations of gases produced by animals (snails) during biocycle, and emitted after death. Filters are chemisorption active fibrous materials (AFM) with high sorption rate and water receptivity (cation exchange fiber VION-KN-1 and anion exchange fiber VION-AS-1), and water-repellent carbon adsorbent SKLTS. AFM filters were effective in air cleaning and practically excluded ingress of chemical substances from the container into cabin atmosphere over more than 100 days.
