title: Effects of microgravity and hypergravity on the cell: investigations on Paramecium tetraurelia.
abstract: Previous space CYTOS experiments have shown that space flights resulted in an increase in growth of Paramecia cultures. Microgravity is the major factor responsible of this response: indeed the stimulatory effect disappeared in inflight cultures placed on a 1 g centrifuge aboard the Spacelab. On the other hand, exposure to different levels of hypergravity on Earth resulted in an opposite response, i.e. to a reduced cell growth rate.  A possible mechanism of microgravity on paramecia is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Medicale, Faculte de Medecine Toulouse-Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richoilley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tixador
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Templier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasset
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Planel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002498:Centrifugation; D018471:Hypergravity; D016805:Paramecium tetraurelia / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness