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Embryogenesis, hatching and larval development of Artemia during orbital spaceflightDevelopmental biology studies, using gastrula-arrested cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, were conducted during two flights of the space shuttle Atlantis (missions STS-37 and STS-43) in 1991. Dehydrated cysts were activated, on orbit, by addition of salt water to the cysts, and then development was terminated by the addition of fixative. Development took place in 5 ml syringes, connected by tubing to activation syringes, containing salt water, and termination syringes, containing fixative. Comparison of space results with simultaneous ground control experiments showed that equivalent percentages of naupliar larvae hatched in the syringes (40%). Thus, reactivation of development, completion of embryogenesis, emergence and hatching took place, during spaceflight, without recognizable alteration in numbers of larvae produced. Post-hatching larval development was studied in experiments where development was terminated, by introduction of fixative, 2 days, 4 days, and 8 days after reinitiation of development. During spaceflight, successive larval instars or stages, interrupted by molts, occurred, generating brine shrimp at appropriate larval instars. Naupliar larvae possessed the single naupliar eye, and development of the lateral pair of adult eyes also took place in space. Transmission electron microscopy revealed extensive differentiation, including skeletal muscle and gut endoderm, as well as the eye tissues. These studies demonstrate the potential value of Artemia for developmental biology studies during spa ceflight, and show that extensive degrees of development can take place in this microgravity environment.
Document ID
19950029060
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Spooner, B. S.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Debell, L.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Armbrust, L.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Guikema, J. A.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Metcalf, J.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Paulsen, A.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, US, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Life sciences and space research 25 (1). Gravitational biology; Interdisciplinary Scientific Commission F of the COSPAR Plenary Meeting, 29th, Washington, DC, Aug. 28-Sep. 5, 1992. A95-60632
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0273-1177
ISBN: 0-08-042485-6
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
95A60659
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1197
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2328
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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