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Development of a Metabolic Cage for Simulation of Weightlessness in a Laboratory EnvironmentAstronauts experience many physiological changes during spaceflight and exposure to microgravity. There is a headwardshift of fluids, muscles atrophy, and changes occur in the body's bone structure and hormone levels. This paper describes a unique metabolic cage that was developed to evaluate ground simulation of these effects. Hindlimb or tail suspension in rats has been studied as a model to create the effects of microgravity in order to study how to counteract them. This suspension model, developed by Holton, accurately simulates the effects of weightlessness during spaceflight by unloading the hindlimbs and producing a head-ward shift of fluids. However, obtaining quantitative data on the nutritional state, the gastrointestinal and renal function of these animals has not been possible, until now. Using Holton's tail suspension model, the new metabolic suspension cage effectively separates urine and feces samples for analysis allowing investigators to examine the effects of microgravity in many complex body systems. A description of the cage system, its design, and results of its use is provided along with pictures and details for replication of the cages.
Document ID
20010048896
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mulenburg, Gerald M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Evans, JuliAnn
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Gundo, Daniel P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Skundberg, Thomas L.
(Bionetics Corp. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Harper, Jennifer
(Bionetics Corp. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Wade, Charles E.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Subject Category
Research And Support Facilities (Air)
Meeting Information
Meeting: 18th Space Simulation Conference: Space Mission Success through Testing
Location: Baltimore, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: October 31, 1994
End Date: November 3, 1994
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 199-08-12
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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