title: Effects of space flight on ovarian-hypophyseal function in postpartum rats.
abstract: The effect of space flight in a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shuttle was studied in pregnant rats. Rats were launched on day 9 of gestation and recovered on day 20 of gestation. On day 20 of gestation, rats were unilaterally hysterectomized and subsequently allowed to go to term and deliver vaginally. There was no effect of space flight on pituitary and ovary mass postpartum. In addition, space flight did not alter healthy and atretic ovarian antral follicle populations, fetal wastage in utero, plasma concentrations of progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) or pituitary content of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Space flight significantly increased plasma concentrations of FSH and decreased pituitary content of LH at the postpartum sampling time. Collectively, these data show that space flight, initiated during the postimplantation period of pregnancy, and concluded before parturition, is compatible with maintenance of pregnancy and has minimal effects on postpartum hypophyseal parameters; however, none of the ovarian parameters examined was altered by space flight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4354, USA.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Burden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zary
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jonnalagadda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hodson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013026:Space Flight
chemical_list: D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone