title: [Research on the Kosmos biosatellites].
abstract: In the last decade the USSR has launched six biosatellites of the Cosmos series. The duration of the first flight was 6 days and of the five subsequent flights 18 to 21 days. The major goals of the flight studies were: investigation of adaptation of living systems to weightlessness, identification of the modifying effect of weightlessness on radiosensitivity, and detection of the biological effect of artificial gravity. The examinations were performed on 37 biological species, with most of them on rats. The exposure to weightlessness gave rise to moderate stress reactions and specific changes, particularly in the musculo-skeletal system (muscle atrophy, reduced bone strength, etc). Artificial gravity of 1 g generated inflight helped maintain the normal function of most physiological systems. The exposure of mammals (rats) to 137Ce irradiation did not reveal a modifying effect of weightlessness on radiation sickness. Distinct manifestations of the effects of weightlessness on intracellular processes were not observed. Dissimilar results were obtained with respect to the growth and development of living organisms in weightlessness.
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D006112:Gravitation; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D007391:International Cooperation; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D051381:Rats; D012106:Research; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014586:USSR; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects
vernacular_title: Issledovaniia na biosputnikakh "Kosmos".