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Experiment K-6-14. Hepatic function in rats after spaceflightTo determine the possible biochemical consequences of prolonged weightlessness on liver function, tissue samples from rats that had flown aboard Cosmos 1887 were analyzed for hepatic protein, glycogen and lipids as well as the activities of a number of key enzymes involved in metabolism of these compounds and xenobiotics. Among the parameters measured, the major differences were elevations in the hepatic glycogen content and HMG-CoA reductase activities of the rats flown on Cosmos 1887, and a decrease in the amount of microsomal cytochrome P sub 450 and the activity of aniline hydroxylase, a cytochrome P sub 450-dependent enzyme. Decreases in these two indices of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system indicated that spaceflight may compromise the ability of liver to metabolize drugs and toxins. The higher HMG-CoA reductase correlated with elevated levels of serum cholestrol. Other changes included somewhat higher blood glucose, creatinine, SGOT, and much greater alkaline phosphatase and BUN. These results generally support the earlier observation of changes in these parameters (Merrill et al., Am. J. Physiol. 252:R22-R226, 1987). The importance of these alterations in liver function is not known; however, they have the potential to complicate long-term spaceflight.
Document ID
19900017152
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Merrill, A., Jr.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Hoel, M.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Wang, E.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Jones, D.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Hargrove, J.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Mullins, R.
(Emory Univ. Atlanta, GA., United States)
Popova, I.
(Institute of Biomedical Problems Moscow, Ussr)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Ames Research Center, The US Experiments Flown on the Soviet Biosatellite Cosmos 1887
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
90N26468
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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