Mechanisms for negative water balance during weightlessness Immersion or bed rest?

Results of bedrest and water immersion studies are of interest when formulating an hypothesis to explain inflight changes in water and electrolyte metabolism. A comparison of the two techniques is made, and it is found that the time course of fluid-electrolyte responses with bedrest occur more slowly than during weightlessness and faster with immersion. Hence, the head-down bedrest is the more appropriate model for simulation studies. The facts lead to the following hypothesis: Because of the head-ward shift of fluid , there is a transient elevation of central venous pressure upon reaching weightlessness that is not sufficiently intense to significantly activate the vasopressin-diuresis mechanism. But the increased pressure is of significant intensity to release atrial natriuretic peptides. A hypotonic fluid moving into the cells contributes to edema and inhibits thirst. In this manner, astronauts gradually lose body water as a result of slightly increased urinary sodium coupled with decreased fluid intake. These responses continue until a new fluid-electrolyte steady state is attained at a reduced level of total body water.