Effect of space flight factors on the mammal: experimental-morphological study.

On the basis of a morphological examination of 27 rats that made a space flight and were sacrificed on the 1st-2nd and 26-27th days postflight, it has been shown that the 22-d space flight has produced no significant changes in the structural organization of vital organs of the animals. However, a space flight exposure is not indifferent for animals and leads to the development of morphologically visible changes in individual organs and systems (musculo-skeletal system, hemopoietic organs, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, renal juxtaglomerular system). The detected changes are reversible, nonspecific, and develop in animals exposed to ground-based hypokinetic and other stress experiments.