Retinal changes in rats flown on Cosmos 936: A cosmic ray experiment
Philpott, D.E.; Corbett, R.; Turnbill, C.; Black, S.; Dayhoff, D.; McGourty, J.; Lee, R.; Harrison, G.; Savick, L.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 51(6): 556-562
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 7417115 Document Number: 165726
Ten rats, 5 centrifuged during flight to simulate gravity and 5 stationary in flight and experiencing hypogravity, orbited the Earth. No differences were noted between flight-stationary and flight-centrifuged animals, but changes were seen between these 2 groups and ground controls. Morphological alterations were observed comparable to those flown on Cosmos 782 and to the retinal cells exposed to high-energy particles. Affected cells in the outer nuclear layer showed swelling, clearing of cytoplasm and disruption of the membranes. Tissue channels were again found, similar to those seen on 782. After space flight, an increase in cell size was indicated in montages of the nuclear layer of both groups of flight animals. Weightlessness and environmental conditions other than cosmic radiation apparently do not contribute to the observed damage of retinal cells.