Effects of microgravity on vestibular ontogeny: direct physiological and anatomical measurements following space flight (STS-29).
Does space flight change gravity receptor development? The present study measured vestibular form and function in birds flown as embryos for 5 days in earth orbit (STS-29). No major changes in vestibular gross morphology were found. Vestibular response mean amplitudes and latencies were unaffected by space flight. However, the results of measuring vestibular thresholds were mixed and abnormal responses in 3 of the 8 flight animals raise important questions.
Jones
T A
TA
Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln 68583-0740, USA.
Fermin
C
C
Hester
P Y
PY
Vellinger
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D013026:Space Flight; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014893:Weightlessness
D005353:Fibronectins; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D007632:Keratan Sulfate