[Jejunum intersticium in mongolian gerbils after the flight on spacecraft Foton-M3].

Methods of light optical microscopy were used to explore histoarchitectonics, topography and tinctorial properties of the extracellular phase of fibers of jejunum wall intersticium in Mongolian gerbils following 12-day orbital flight aboard Foton-M3, ground-based simulation of the spaceflight factors in the KONTUR-L facility, and in the group of biological control Postflight destructive changes were found in reticulin fibers (type-III collagen) of villi stroma, intercrypt intersticium and submucosa. Local acidophilia and fiber homogenization formed in type I collagen present in the intestinal subserous layer, muscular layers endomysium and submucose against the background of progressing edema and arterial, venous plethora and lymphostasis. Elastic component of the intersticium was disarranged in the structures of internal elastic membrane of submucous vessels, fragmented and partly reduced.

[Tissue-specific reaction of the mucous coat of herbals' small gut under the influence of spaceflight factors on board biosat "Foton M3"].

Methods of light-optical microscopy, morpho- and cytometry and histochemisty were used to study the epithelial lining of herbal's small gut after 12-day flight in biosat "Foton M3". Changes in mucous coat histoarchitectonics included branching of villi and cystic lumps lined with prismatic epithelium. Shortening of the mucous membrane villi was accompanied by reduction of prismatic epithelium height, increase in the number of goblet cells and change of their dislocation, stimulation of excretion of biosynthesis products on the brush border surface pointing to impairment of the interstitial barrier function.

[Rna content of gerbil hepatocytes after the flight aboard space platform Foton-M3].

The paper compares and contrasts the results of measuring the hepatocyte cytoplasm area and RNA content in 35 gerbils in three series of experiments, i.e. the vivarium control, modeled space flight (synchronous control) and exposure to the factors of 12-d Foton-M3 orbital flight.

[Morphofunctional state of hepatocytes nuclear apparatus in Mongolian herbils after the flight on space apparatus Foton-M3].

Morphofunctional state of hepatocytes nuclear apparatus was analyzed in the liver of Mongolian gerbils Meriones unguiculatus returned from 12-d space flight of Foton-M3 (SF) and their vivarium and ground synchronous controls. Volume, ploidy and number of hepatocyte nuclei, nucleolus dimensions and number as well as contacts with karyolemma were determined in the central, intermediate and peripheral areas of the liver classical lobe. Also, total number of mitoses and amitoses was determined in the liver parenchyma.

[On the effect of centrifugal force upon antitumor resistance of organism].

The influence of the centrifugal force of 2 g combined with attendant factors, such as noise and electromagnetic field (in all ten exposures, 5 min each, at three- to four-day intervals), on tumor growth in C57Bl/6 mice has been studied. It was shown that the combined treatment leads to an enhancement of carcinogenesis. Increasing the centrifugal force to 3 g and the duration of exposure to 15 and 30 min increases the antitumor resistance of the organism and the life-span.

[Glycogen content in gerbil's liver following the spacecraft Foton-M3 mission].

Glycogen cytochemistry and distribution in hepatocytes of the classic liver lobules were studied in three groups of gerbils Meriones unguiculatus: vivarium, synchronous control and flown in the 12-d Foton-M3 mission. The control animals were shown to have the central glycogen distribution with a large pool of polysaccharides found in hepatocytes of the pericentral and intermediate lobules and a small pool in the periportal area. Glycogen in hepatocyte plasm was within the physiological norm in the alpha- and beta-granules, typically localized on the cell periphery.

[Handling and maintenance of gerbils during the spacecraft Foton-M3 mission].

Pressurized low-sized module Kontur with an independent life support system (LSS) was developed by the Institute of Biomedical Problems cooperatively with the Special Design Bureau of Experimental Equipment to house gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) aboard robotic technology-purpose spacecraft. Design of the module precludes pollution of the environment The fully equipped module weighs 69 kg; average daily power consumption is 62 watts. The environmental parameters for 12 animals flown on Foton-M3 in the period of September 14-26, 2007 were controlled within the following ranges: pO2 - 143-156 mm Hg, (mean 150 mm Hg), pCO2 - 0.

[Gerbil experiment in the flight of spacecraft "Foton-M3"].

The 12-d mission of Russian spacecraft Foton-M3 in September of 2007 was used as an opportunity to fly an experiment with 12 male gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) at the age of 4-4.5 mos. and mean body weight of 51.

[Programme "BION": from the past to the future].

In the period when Russia had embarked on construction of long-duration orbital stations, few data was collected about potential damaging effects of space flight (SF) factors, first of all microgravity, on structure and functions of various tissues, organs and physiological systems. At the same time designers of space vehicles requested from doctors and biologists the scientific substantiation of the feasibility of long-term SF by humans. Recognizing the necessity of a comprehensive approach to the issue, it was decided to fulfill fundamental and applied biological investigations aboard dedicated satellites of the BION series.

[Histological study of the visceral organs of Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus as a subject in spaceflight experiments].

Survey histological study of the heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, adrenals, thymus, spleen, testicles of the Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus with a body mass of about 27 g showed their macro- and microscopic similarity with the organs of laboratory rats and mice notwithstanding some slight differences. For instance, the ascending knee of Hengle's loop in the gerbil kidney is much better developed and forms in whole a kind of a singular cortical fiber bordering the medulla. It is the well-developed parts of Hengle's ascending loop in gerbil that ensures a more complete water reabsorption decrease the quantity of urine and sharply reduce the amount of exogenous fluid vitally important for animals in arid areas.

[Problems of exobiology: the origin of life on Earth].

The basic problem of exobiology is origin and evolution of life as a space phenomenon. Consideration is given to the facts for the space origin, spreading in the interstellar space of and invasion of the surface of planets by organic compounds, constituents of archetypes of living systems. The authors bring up to discussion the issues of life development under the conditions of Earth, and formation of the main properties of the living organisms differing in the level of organization.

[Comparative analysis of changes in rats organisms exposed to microgravity and head-down suspension].

Comparative analysis of metabolic and structural shifts in rats following 14 days of microgravity aboard biosatellite Cosmos-2044 and their tail-suspended synchronous controls gave evidence that suspension-induced deprivation of hind limbs of support loading yields inherent to microgravity shifts the endocrine control of energy, plastic, and mineral metabolism. The conclusion has been drawn that tail-suspension can be used as a model of the microgravity effects on the musculoskeletal apparatus and the endocrine systems controlling metabolism in muscles and bones.

[The contribution of space biology and medicine to the solution of ecological problems].

Space biology and medicine solving the problems of space exploration by a man is thereby contributed to the solution of the ecological problems. Theoretically, it is an enrichment of the existing ideas of the biosphere and biological consequences of an anthropogenic effect on the biosphere. Practically, these are: the novel means and methods of the environmental monitoring; the databases of the ecology of a healthy man; the countermeasures and methods to prevent and protect a man from the impacts of unfavourable environmental factors.

[Experiments using rats on Kosmos biosatellites: morphologic and biochemical studies].

Results of morphological and biochemical investigations of rats flown on Cosmos biosatellites are discussed. It is emphasized that most changes occurring during exposure to microgravity are directly or indirectly related to lower musculoskeletal loads which in turn produce deconditioning of different physiological systems and organism as a whole. It is concluded that this deconditioning is associated with both metabolic and structural changes.

[Objectives and tasks of projects of the medical laboratory in space "Medilab"].

This paper discusses goals and objectives of the Soviet project to build a space medical laboratory "Medilab". Special attention is given to the design, structure and mathematical support of the dedicated biomedical laboratory.

[The Cosmos biosatellite: achievements and research outlook].

This is an overview of the results of biological and physiological investigations in flights of biosatellites of the Cosmos series. A detailed description of biomedical equipment is presented. The major lines of research to be performed in the near and far future are discussed.

[Experiments on rats exposed in the Cosmos 1667 biosatellite (goals, protocols, results)].

Morphobiochemical investigations of the rats flown on the biosatellite Cosmos-1667 have shown that the 7-day space flight produces shifts in different systems, organs and tissues which reflect adaptive processes to microgravity. Early signs of structural, functional and metabolic rearrangement can be detected in the musculoskeletal apparatus, hemopoietic system, lymphoid organs, neurohormonal systems, i.e.

[Steady electric field of the rat during adaptation to functional unloading of the hindlimbs].

Unloading of the hindlimbs' weight--bearing muscles induced considerable changes in animal's static electrical field on the 5th--8th day of experiment.

[Effect of weightlessness and and its simulations on the mechanical properties of the bones of animals undergoing torsion].

Mechanical properties (stress and strain) of bones from rats of different ages exposed to weightlessness, hypodynamia or hypokinesia were examined upon torsion. As compared to the controls, the femur of Cosmos-1129 rats showed high deformability. Also, skeletal bones of young rats proved more sensitive to hypodynamia than those of adult animals.

[Changes in the static electric field in restrained animals].

The paper states that restraint of an animal causes transition from one quasistationary level of the static electric field to another.