Projects / Programmes
Zero and reduced gravity simulation: the effect on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.06.00 |
Medical sciences |
Cardiovascular system |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B470 |
Biomedical sciences |
Physiology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.05 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Other medical sciences |
Cardiovascular deconditioning, muscle atrophy, thermoregulation, osteoporosis
Researchers (26)
Organisations (5)
Abstract
The present proposal is for the development of a new research programme and facility, which will contribute to the European network of research laboratories and institutes dealing with Space exploration. Specifically, the aim is to develop a Lunar habitat simulation facility capable of housing experimental campaigns of prolonged hypoxic bedrest. The aim of such simulations would be to investigate the combined effects of hypoxia and simulated reduced gravity (0.16 of Earth’s gravity, the gravitational force on the Moon) on physiological systems, and also to investigate potential countermeasures that might be applicable in a Lunar habitat.
During space missions, prolonged exposure to a microgravity environment induces adaptive processes, usually referred to as deconditioning, in the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. The deconditioning commonly manifests itself when the cosmonaut/astronaut returns to Earth’s gravity field. Cardiovascular deconditioning is reflected in marked reductions in the capacity to withstand increased gravitoinertial (G) forces in the head-to-foot direction (G tolerance) and in orthostatic tolerance. Several mechanisms may contribute to the reductions in orthostatic and G tolerance, including hypovolemia, myocardial atrophy, diminished arterial baroreflex function and increased pooling of blood in dependent veins, as a consequence of atrophy of the skeletal muscle tissue surrounding the veins.
A series of bedrest and hypoxia campaigns involving human subjects will be conducted at the Research Infrastructure: Centre for Lunar Biomedical Research (Planica, Slovenia). The bedrest studies will be designed as a repeated measures cross-over design. During the course of the studies, subjects will remain in a horizontal position (bedrest studies) or confined to the facility (confinement studies) for durations of up to 5 weeks. The subjects will participate in three protocols: hypoxic bedrest, normoxic bedrest, and hypoxic confinement. Subjects in the normoxic group will be exposed to a normoxic environment during the bedrest, whereas the subjects in the hypoxia group will be exposed to a hypoxic environment for the duration of the bedrest or confinement. The level of hypoxia will be maintained at levels from 12.5 to 15.8 kPa. The studies will be conducted as repeated measures trials, thus the subjects will be requested to participate in all three trials (hypoxic bedrest, normoxic bedrest, and hypoxic confinement), but will be allowed a wash-out period, which will be equal to at least twice the length of the bedrest or confinement period. Over the course of the three year research programme, the studies will be repeated with different subject populations: healthy normal weight young (18-25 yrs) and middle-aged (40-50 yrs.), male and female subjects.
The objectives of the proposed research programme are to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the deconditioning induced by bedrest. Studies will compare the processes of deconditioning associated with inactivity/unloading in normoxic and hypoxic environments. Specifically, the added effect of hypoxia in subjects participating in the bedrest studies will be investigated in terms of the functional properties of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and thermoregulatory systems. Since the application is for a large applied project, the research programme will also include studies investigating the effect of hypoxic bedrest on the etiology of venous gas emboli during simulation simulation of extra-vehicular/habitat activity (EVAs), as well as the effect of simulated sojourns in a lunar habitat on nutrition and metabolism.
Significance for science
Within the framework of the research programme we developed a unique facility for planetary habitat simularions. The development of the facility was funded, in part, by the European Space Agency. The facility has been used to conduct simulations of the effects of the environmens within future Lunar and planetary habitats (these will be hypobaric hypoxic) on physiological systems. Research in the facility has been supported by the Slovene Research Agency, and the EC Framework 7 Programme. Results of these studies will benefit specific patient populations on Earth; namely, the results will contribute to the understanding of the aetiology of illnesses rendering patients chronically hypoxic, and as a consequence also inactive.
Significance for the country
The research programme has positioned Slovenia, and the Centre for planetary biomedical research in Planica on the world map of centres where Space Life Sciences are conducted. The research programme, and the Centre, has enabled the collaboration of Slovene scientists and stduents with top EU laboratories. The results will, in some casesm be translated into clinical practice by the Slovene physicians participating in the research programme. The research programme has also presented Slovenia with an opportunity to contribute significantly to ESA's Space Life Sciences programme, which is also one of the aims of Slovenia's future membership in ESA.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
