BIOCHEMICAL STATUS OF HUMANS IN LONG-TERM SPACEFLIGHT (BIOTEST)
Research Area: Integrated Physiology and Nutrition
Expedition(s): 3-10
Principal Investigator(s): ● Irina M. Larina, PhD, Institute of Medical and Biological
Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Biochemical Status of Humans in Long-term Spaceflight (Biotest) studies metabolic adaptation
to extended spaceflight conditions to broaden the existing information base on changes in
metabolism and its hormonal regulation in microgravity.
EARTH BENEFITS
Biotest promotes the development of space and
ground medicine.SPACE BENEFITS
Biotest data improves medical monitoring,
training, and postflight rehabilitation of crew
members for long-term spaceflight.RESULTS
Ground laboratories measured the hormonal,
metabolic, and biochemical indicators of the
space adaptation process in blood samples
collected from crew members. Overall results
were found to be within accepted normal
standards. In the final stage of long-term spaceflight, no increase in the secretion of the stress
hormones, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids of the adrenal cortex was noted. The
association between reproductive hormones and pancreatic hormone indicators was also not
affected during long-term spaceflight. The pattern of the changes in thyroid hormones before,
during, and after long-term spaceflight reflected the state of metabolism, functional activity,
and the main metabolism level in crew members while the thryotrophic hormone-thyroid
hormone regulation feedback loop remains normal. The dynamic of water/salt metabolism
parameters and its regulation correlates to flight duration and the age of crew members.
PUBLICATION(S)
Smith SM, Westney ME, O’Brian KO, et al. Bone indicators, metabolism, and calcium kinetics
during long-term flights on the Mir orbital station. Gravitatsionnaya Fiziologiya.
2005;20(2):208-218.
Grigoriev AI, Larina IM, Noskov VB. Effect of spaceflight on the status and regulation of
water/electrolyte metabolism. I.M. Sechenov Russian Journal of Physiology. 2006:92(1).
This investigation is complete and all results are published.
КВ-03 container with biological samples returned
on the Soyuz TMA-3 descent module. Roscosmos
image.