Modulation of myocardial alpha 1- but not beta-adrenoceptors after 90-day tail-suspension

We have previously demonstrated that prolonged simulated microgravity (tail-suspension) leads to cardiac alterations with increased resting heart rate, myocardial degradation changes and attenuated myocardial contractility. The present study investigated the potential role of adrenoceptor mechanisms underlying them. Changes of myocardial alpha 1-adrenoceptor (alpha 1-AR) and beta 1-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) in 90-day tail-suspended rats was investigated by the method of radioligand binding assay and application of Scatchard's method. The results showed significantly decreased quantity of specific binding of 125I-BE[2-beta-(4-hydroxy-3-[125I]indophenyl)-ethylaminomethyltetralone] to alpha 1-AR present in membrane derived from ventricular myocardium of the suspended animals, despite the affinity of the alpha 1-AR to 125I-Be was unchanged. But neither the quantity nor the affinity of beta-AR binding to 125I-Pindolol was significantly altered. In addition, the spontaneously beating rate of isolated right atria from tail-suspended animals showed little change in sensitivity and reactivity to the stimulations of graded phenylephrine (alpha-agonist, measured in the presence of beta-antagonist propranolol) and isoproterenol (beta-agonist), compared with the control rats. There were also no obvious differences of the effects of the isoproterenol on the contractility of isolated left ventricular papillary muscles between the two groups. Since myocardial alpha 1-AR mediated-effects include production of cardiac hypertrophy and enhancement of myocardial glucose uptake and glycolysis, the down-regulation of the alpha 1-AR may be a contributor to the cardiac cellular accumulation and the myocardial degradation changes as found in our tail-suspended rats. The data from this study also suggest that the myocardial beta-adrenoceptors are not affected by the prolonged tail-suspension.

Cortico-adrenal function under simulated weightlessness during gestation in the rat--effects on fetal development

To examine the effects of simulated weightlessness on cortico-adrenal function and on fetal development, we suspended pregnant rats for 20 days. The levels of adrenal and plasma corticosterone were examined in mothers and in fetuses. The animal control group was kept single in standard cages. Growth of the suspended animals was repressed for the first 8 days of the experiment, but thereafter it increased greatly, as did the daily food intake. By the 18th day of the experiment, the body masses and food intake of the two groups were equal. No modification in circulating corticosterone was found. It appears that there is no stress in pregnant rats submitted to simulated weightlessness.

Choroidal responses in microgravity. (SLS-1, SLS-2 and hindlimb-suspension experiments)

Fluid and electrolyte shifts occurring during human spaceflight have been reported and investigated at the level of blood, cardiovascular and renal responses. Very few data were available concerning the cerebral fluid and electrolyte adaptation to microgravity, even in animal models. It is the reason why we developed several studies focused on the effects of spaceflight (SLS-1 and SLS-2 programs, carried on NASA STS 40 and 56 missions, which were 9- and 14-day flights, respectively), on structural and functional features of choroid plexuses, organs which secrete 70-90% of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and which are involved in brain homeostasis. Rats flown aboard space shuttles were sacrificed either in space (SLS-2 experiment, on flight day 13) or 4-8 hours after landing (SLS-1 and SLS-2 experiments). Quantitative autoradiography performed by microdensitometry and image analysis, showed that lateral and third ventricle choroid plexuses from rats flown for SLS-1 experiment demonstrated an increased number (about x 2) of binding sites to natriuretic peptides (which are known to be involved in mechanisms regulating CSF production). Using electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry, we studied the cellular response of choroid plexuses, which produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in brain lateral, third and fourth ventricles. We demonstrated that spaceflight (SLS-2 experiment, inflight samples) induces changes in the choroidal cell structure (apical microvilli, kinocilia organization, vesicle accumulation) and protein distribution or expression (carbonic anhydrase II, water channels,...). These observations suggested a loss of choroidal cell polarity and a decrease in CSF secretion. Hindlimb-suspended rats displayed similar choroidal changes. All together, these results support the hypothesis of a modified CSF production in rats during long-term (9, 13 or 14 days) adaptations to microgravity.

Cardiovascular and organ responses and adaptation responses to hypogravity in an experimental animal model

The head-down suspension (i.e. antiorthostatic hypokinesia) rat is used to simulate weightlessness. However, little is known about cardiovascular and organ adaptation responses which, over a long time, can become pathologically significant. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate regional changes in the hematology parameters. Endotheline-1 (ET-1) concentration and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) (NAG) in an experimental antiorthostatic rat model. The data indicate significant variations in the plasma ET-1 level in time, in the superior and inferior cava vessel blood of animals maintained for 10 days in hypogravity with respect to controls. These changes do not seem to be due to hemoconcentration. The increase in urinary NAG was observed during the first 24h of experiment, indicating renal stress, probably due to adverse blood flow variations within the organ. We conclude that the plasma ET-1 level changes could be responsible, overall for the blood flow variations in the kidney and renal stress could be the consequence of extended antiorthostatic hypokinesia. The ET-1 behaviour and urinary NAG excretion in rats exposed to antiorthostatic hypokinetic hydynamia offer possibilities for understanding if these changes might be reversible or when they become pathological. This could give some relevant information about the effects of prolonged hypogravity during the space voyage.

Respective effects of hindlimb suspension, confinement and spaceflight on myotendinous junction ultrastructure

This study compares the effects of 14-day confinement and spaceflight with the respective effects of 8, 18 and 29-day hindlimb suspension on rat soleus and plantaris MTJ ultrastructure. Independently of the experimental situation, greater morphological changes were observed in the soleus as compared to the plantaris MTJ. 18 days of suspension and 14 days of confinement resulted in ultrastructural modifications of the digit-like processes in the soleus MTJ. Additional changes were observed in the myofibrils, microtendon and tendon after 29 days of suspension and 4 days of spaceflight. These results emphasize the influence of the intensity and duration of the muscle loading on the MTJ ultrastructure.

Effects of stress on Kv1.5 K+ channel gene expression in the left ventricle of rat hearts

Voltage-dependent K+ channels contribute to the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. An increase in Kv1.5 K+ channel gene expression by a pharmacological dose of glucocorticoid was reported recently in the heart of an adrenalectomized rat. In this study, we examined whether physiological elevations of glucocorticoid induced by tail suspension affects the K+ channel gene expression. Five-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to tail suspension for three days. Total RNA was extracted from the ventricle, and the level of Kv1.5 mRNA was determined by Northern blot analysis. On the first day, the Kv1.5 mRNA had increased over the non-suspended rat. By the third day, mRNA had increased significantly by more than 3-fold. knowing that urinary excretions of glucocorticoid increase in tail-suspended rats, these findings suggest that physiologically elevated glucocorticoid may upregulate Kv1.5 K+ gene expression.

Catecholamine response to stress: age related modifications in tail-suspended rats

The catecholamine response to acute stress has been shown to change with age. However, alterations under chronic stress conditions have not been established. This study attempted to determine whether aging modifies the catecholamine response to chronic stress load in rats subjected to tail suspension. Urinary excretions of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) were monitored before and during the tail suspension experiments in rats at two different ages: 5 weeks old (young) and 18 months old (aged). Basal excretions of E and NE before the suspension were higher in the aged rats, indicating that sympathetic-adrenal medullary activities increase with age under resting conditions. The chronic stress load elicited E responses in the aged rats similar to those in the young rats. The NE responses, however, were completely different in that tail suspension caused a greater increase in NE excretion in the young rats than in the aged rats. This finding suggests that the sympathetic response to chronic stress load changes with age.

Urinary excretion of stress hormones of rats in tail-suspension

Tail-suspension of rats has been employed for the study of disuse atrophy of hindlimb muscles and bones. From our study, it is suggested that stress exacerbates muscle and bone atrophy; however, the determination of stress hormones has been inappropriately performed. For assessing the effect of tail suspension on stress hormone secretion, suspension was performed for 7 days in a metabolic cage. Urinary excretions of corticosterone, catecholamines and antidiuretic hormone were determined during the 7-day suspension. Urine volume was unchanged during the suspension period, whereas water consumption was decreased during suspension. Urinary excretion of corticosterone and catecholamines increased significantly during the initial 3 days of suspension. The excretion of antidiuretic hormone increased throughout the suspension period. Our results demonstrated that the determination of urinary excretion of these hormones is useful for evaluating the stress reaction.