Erythropoietin after long-term spaceflight (30 d)
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Röcker.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A group of 20 healthy volunteers [10 women, 10 men; median age 25 (20-33) years] were examined by means of pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography, blood sample analysis and psychological testing before and after listening to three different examples of music: a waltz by J. Strauss, a modern classic by H. W. Henze, and meditative music by R. Shankar. To assess small haemodynamic changes, mitral flow, which reflects left ventricular diastolic behaviour, was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure and plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, prolactin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) were determined simultaneously. Transmitral flow profile is characterized by early E-wave and late atrial induced A-wave. Velocity-time integrals were measured and the atrial filling fraction was calculated. The mental state was measured by using a psychological score (Zerssen) with low values (minimum 0) for enthusiastic and high values (maximum 56) for depressive patterns. Music by J. Strauss resulted in an increase of atrial filling fraction (AFF; 29% vs 26%; P < 0.05) and ANP (63 pg.ml-1 vs 60 pg.ml-1; P < 0.05). The mental state was improved (Zerssen: 6.5 vs 11 points; P < 0.05). After the music of H. W. Henze prolactin values were lowered (7.7 ng.ml-1 vs 9.1 ng.ml-1; P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
To evaluate mechanisms of late orthostatic intolerance, slow fluid shifts along the body axis were studied during deconditioning by 24-h bed-rest and during 13-min upright tilts before and after this manoeuvre. In 11 healthy male subjects the fluid volumes of a thorax and a calf segment (impedance plethysmography) as well as tissue thickness at the forehead and the tibia (miniature ultrasonic plethysmograph) were recorded. Cardiovascular performance was monitored by recording heart rate (electrocardiogram), brachial and finger arterial pressure (by the Riva Rocci method and by the Finapres technique) as well as stroke volume (by impedance cardiography). Bed-rest led to a cephalad fluid shift with a mean interstitial leg dehydration of 2.2 ml.100 ml-1 with no changes in body mass and plasma volume. No syncope during the tilt occurred before bed-rest, while after bed-rest 8 subjects fainted between min 2.1 and 9.0 of the tilt. Bed-rest resulted in an augmented initial heart rate response to tilting which was similar in all subjects. In later orthostasis, bed-rest caused two- to threefold faster caudad fluid shifts with higher calf filtration rates in fainters (prior to hypotension) than in nonfainters. Through bed-rest the estimated extravasation within 10 min into general lower body tissue spaces increased by 192 ml in (late) fainters as opposed to only 23 ml in nonfainters. It was concluded that contributing factors to orthostatic intolerance may be slow transcapillary fluid shifts which are easily underestimated and whose quantity and time course call for further investigation after various deconditioning manoeuvres. In particular, the postflight fluid shifts in astronauts who will have markedly dehydrated legs, may impose a circulatory stress which needs to be evaluated. In general, the filtration rate in relevant areas appears to be an integrative and easily determined parameter, reflecting hormonal and neurogenic vascular as well as local interstitial control of the Starling forces.
Erythropoietin (EPO), triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocytes, packed cell volume, and plasma volume changes were studied in 29 male Austrian mountain rescue soldiers before and several days after an ascent from 744 to 2,315 m in the Alps. EPO concentrations showed a remarkable increase 48 h after the ascent (P < 0.01). No significant changes were found in triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and TSH. Reticulocytes increased only slightly. Hb decreased during the week (P < 0.01). Packed cell volume did not change, whereas plasma volume showed a slight decrease for 48 h after the ascent but then increased constantly (P < 0.01). It seems that thyroid hormones, TSH, and Hb play only a minor role in the regulation of EPO production and release under mild hypobaric-hypoxic conditions (2,315 m).
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The microgravity environment can be expected in man to induce a swelling of facial tissues and a shrinking of the tissues in the lower limbs together with a loss in body weight. To quantitate fluid shifts into and out of superficial tissues an ultrasound A-mode method was used in one cosmonaut during a 7-day spaceflight. Measurements were taken from frontal and tibia tissues, where the underlying bone provides a good backwall echo. During the spaceflight the cosmonaut showed a swelling of facial tissues during the first 3 days. At the same time the superficial tissues of the caudal areas shrank by 20%. In space he lost 7.7% of body weight. After the spaceflight the superficial tissues were dried out but regained their water content within the next 4 days even before body weight returned to control level. Per kilogram of body weight an increase of 400 cm3 entered the superficial tissue layers of the body. It is concluded that water loss as well as wasting of tissues contribute to the loss in body weight during space flight.
The effects of moderate 30-min cycle ergometer exercise (aerobic metabolism) followed by short-term exercise at maximal capacity (anaerobic metabolism) on fibrinolytic activity were investigated in ten female and ten male healthy, untrained subjects. The following parameters of fibrinolytic activity were measured initially (t0), at the end of the aerobic phase (t1), at the end of the anaerobic phase (t2) and after a 30-min recovery period (t3): tissue plasminogen activator (PAt) activity, PAt concentration, plasminogen activator (PAt) activity, PAt concentration, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAi) activity, and D-Dimer concentration. Moderate long-term exercise caused a slight but significant increase in PAt concentration and PAt activity (t1; P < 0.01), whereas short-term exercise at maximal capacity (t2) produced a substantial elevation in both these parameters (P < 0.01). This would suggest that PAt was not inhibited totally by PAi which would itself seem to be consumed during exercise. In addition, a slight exercise intensity-dependent increase in D-Dimer concentration was measured--circumstancial evidence not only for elevated fibrinolytic potential, but also for an actual increase in fibrin degradation (t2: P < 0.01). After t3 both PAt activity and D-Dimer concentration were still slightly but significantly increased. The results obtained in the tests of fibrinolytic activity showed no significant difference between the men and the women. It would seem that the release of PAt is more markedly stimulated by short-term intense physical exercise than by long-term moderate exercise and actually causes increased fibrin degradation.
Intake and output of water were studied in six male subjects from six European countries during 28 days of isolation and confinement in order to assess whether the observed reactions can be compared with those observed during space travel. On the average, the subjects drank 17.5 ml/kg/day fluids. An additional 25 ml/kg/day was recruited from food intake and metabolism. The lowest fluid intake of 11.3 and 12.1 ml/kg/day was shown by two subjects who concurrently lost 3 to 4% of body weight. Three subjects maintained body weight, and one subject gained. A linear correlation existed between the total water output and the fluid intake by drinking. The time series of fluid intake, urine output, and sodium excretion revealed a weekly pattern for these parameters, characterized by low values on Sundays and high values on Fridays. This pattern was most apparent for sodium excretion. Low water turnover rates were seen in the first week of isolation; in the last week the values were above average. In conclusion, it can be said that with respect to the water balance, strong individual differences and time dependent variations (day to day, week to week) of the respective parameters have to be taken into account for the data analysis during such long-term studies.
Several hormonal systems participating in body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis were investigated in six healthy volunteers in a supine body position during a period of 9 days and nights. Under strictly controlled conditions, striking circadian rhythms were observed for plasma levels of vasopressin, renin, aldosterone, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, cortisol, and epinephrine. Nocturnal decreases and diurnal increases in urine flow rate and urinary excretion of electrolytes were observed and closely paralleled the urinary excretion of urodilatin. During 48 h after an acute isotonic saline infusion (2 liters within 25 min) and after a 48-h control experiment the urinary excretion of H2O and electrolytes, and simultaneously the alterations in endocrine systems participating in body fluid homeostasis, were determined. Urine flow and urinary electrolyte excretion rates were significantly increased during 2 days after the saline infusion. The largest increase in urinary fluid and electrolyte excretion was observed between 3 and 22 h postinfusion. These long-term changes were paralleled by altered H2O and Na balances and also by elevated body weights that returned to baseline values with an approximate half-life of 7 h. These data suggest that vasopressin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and catecholamines are unlikely to be of major importance for the renal response to this hypervolemic stimulus. The renin-aldosterone system was suppressed during 2 days postinfusion. This suppression correlated with the effects of saline load on Na excretion. However, the closest relation with Na excretion was observed for the kidney-derived member of the atrial natriuretic peptide family, urodilatin, which was considerably increased during the long-term period up to 22 h postinfusion. Thus these data show that the human body in supine position requires approximately 2 days to regulate the amount of Na and H2O provided by an acute saline infusion. The data also suggest that urodilatin and the renin-aldosterone system might participate in the long-term renal response to an acute saline infusion and also in the mediation of circadian urinary excretion rhythms.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Erythropoietin (EPO) and red blood cells were studied in 15 well-trained men before and several times after a marathon run. Changes in red blood cells reflected changes of plasma volume. Immediately after the run, red blood cells were increased due to haemoconcentration, whereas 31 h later the values were decreased due to haemodilution. The EPO concentration was increased 3 h, and more impressive 31 h, after the run. This long-lasting increase in EPO concentration after the marathon run would seem to be responsible for the increased red blood cell mass in long distance runners.
Sixteen well-trained young men performed a test marathon to study the behaviour of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in relation to changes in plasma volume (PV) and plasma proteins, arginine vasopressin (AVP), renin, aldosterone, potassium and sodium. Blood samples were drawn under standardized conditions before and immediately after the run, as well as 3 h and 31 h after the run. Directly after the run, a two-and-a-half fold increase of plasma ANP and a twofold increase of plasma cGMP level were found, whereas PV decreased significantly by 7.4%. At this time renin-, aldosterone- and AVP-secretion were much stimulated. Thirty-one hours after the run, PV was markedly greater (10%) than before the race, whereas plasma proteins had returned to pre-exercise values. The ANP and cGMP were not significantly altered compared to the pre-race values. We have concluded that ANP and the other volume-regulating hormones may play an important role during and immediately after prolonged physical exercise but not in the longer recovery period. It seems that an influx of plasma proteins into the vascular space is responsible for the increased PV at this time.
The effect of a test marathon race on plasma fibrinolytic activity (FA) was studied in 16 endurance athletes before, immediately after, 3 h, and 31 h after the run. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity increased about 31-fold immediately after the run. Similar increases were found in t-PA antigen concentration. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) was not detectable immediately after the race and was significantly decreased 3 h (P less than 0.05) and 31 h (P less than 0.01) later. B beta 15-42 peptide increased by 0.63 pmol.ml-1 (P less than 0.001), D-dimer by 68.3 ng.ml-1 (P less than 0.05). Euglobulin lysis time (ELT) was reduced from 109 to 18 min (P less than 0.001). The increased t-PA activity and t-PA antigen concentration disappeared in the course of the first 3 h after exertion. ELT also reached its pre-exercise levels at this time. Thirty-one hours after the race ELT and t-PA antigen levels were slightly but significantly reduced (P less than 0.05), whereas B beta 15-42 peptide remained increased (P less than 0.05). t-PA activity was unchanged compared with pre-exercise values. It seems that the exercise-induced FA is mainly caused by the marked increase of t-PA antigen and t-PA activity.
Twenty-two different humoral parameters including stress-, gastrointestinal- and volume-regulating hormones were measured before and within 45 min after parabolic flight maneuvers of twenty healthy adult subjects. We compared hormonal data of motion sickness-affected participants with those unaffected. Changes in cortisol and vasoactive intestinal peptide plasma levels were significantly different (p less than 0.002 and p less than 0.004) between the two groups with increasing plasma levels of both hormones during motion sickness but decreasing levels within the control group. Growth hormone and prolactin plasma levels increased by 400% and 115% within the motion sickness-affected group and to a smaller degree (120% and 40% increases, respectively) within the control group, while ACTH levels were almost unchanged within both groups. Pancreatic polypeptide and gastrin plasma levels as well as plasma levels of insulin and C-peptide were significantly decreased within both groups after the parabolic flight. Plasma renin, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide and cyclic GMP levels were unchanged within the control group. Within the motion sickness-affected group, plasma renin and aldosterone levels were decreased and atrial natriuretic peptide levels increased after the flight. Humoral parameters of the thyroid gland were neither changed within the groups nor different between the groups. The present data confirm previous results that increases in plasma levels of certain stress hormones participate in motion sickness. Furthermore, increases in vasoactive intestinal peptide levels participate in motion sickness. These increases could explain some of the gastrointestinal symptoms in motion sickness and might serve as markers for a discrimination between regular stress and motion sickness.
Fluid-regulating hormones [arginine vasopressin (AVP) and aldosterone] as well as electrolytes, plasma volume (PV), and plasma proteins were studied in 16 well-trained male amateur runners (mean age 31.8 years) before t0), immediately after (t1), and 60 min (t2) and 22 h (t3) after a marathon run. Immediately after the run PV was significantly decreased by 12.1%, whereas the concentration of plasma proteins increased by 13.9%, sodium by 5.8 mMol.l-1, and potassium by 0.58 mMol.l-1, respectively. Aldosterone increased by 1089 pg/ml and AVP by 9.0 pg/ml. PV was significantly increased 22 h after the run by 10.6% (P less than 0.001) and plasma proteins were increased by 1.0% (P greater than 0.05), whereas aldosterone and AVP as well as electrolytes returned to control values. At t1, and particularly at t2 and t3, the total plasma protein concentration increased much more than could have been expected from changes of PV. It is suggested that this phenomenon was caused by an influx of proteins into the vascular space. This might also be the reason for the expanded PV especially in the longer recovery period at t3. The volume-regulating hormones (AVP and aldosterone) may play an important role during and immediately after the run but not in the longer recovery period (t2 and t3).
Thyroid hormones were studied in 16 well-trained male amateur runners (mean age 31.8 years) before, immediately after, and 60 min and 22 h after marathon running. Free thyroxine (fT4), appraised by the free thyroxine index (fT4-I), was significantly increased immediately after and 1 h after the race compared with control values. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly increased immediately after the race, returned to the control value 1 h later, and was markedly decreased 22 h after the race. Free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free reverse triiodo-thyronine (frT3), appraised by the ratios triiodothyronine/-thyroxine binding globulin and reverse triiodothyronine/thyroxine binding globulin, respectively, showed contrary results. frT3 increased significantly after exercise, whereas fT3 decreased insignificantly. The peripheral conversion of thyroxine was additionally estimated by the ratios rT3/T3 and rT3/T. Both ratios were increased significantly after the run and remained elevated 22 h after the race. It is concluded that an increased TSH-regulated T4 secretion occurs during prolonged exercise as well as a change of the peripheral conversion process in favor of the hormonal inactive rT3. The latter condition remained still 22 h after the race.
Single and combined therapy with terbutaline (10 mg/day) and metoprolol (200 mg/day) and single therapy with orciprenaline (30 mg/day) were assessed over 8 weeks in a total of 45 patients with essential hypertension. Blood pressure at rest was comparably reduced by metoprolol + terbutaline and metoprolol alone, but with terbutaline and orciprenaline only after 4 weeks. The responder rates (greater than or equal to 10% reduction in diastolic blood pressure) at rest were 58% (metoprolol + terbutaline), 63% (metoprolol) and significantly lower with terbutaline alone at 42% and orciprenaline alone at 45%. The heart rate was affected only by metoprolol monotherapy, which caused a significant decrease. The beta-adrenoceptor stimulators terbutaline and orciprenaline in the chosen doses slightly decreased blood pressure and did not increase the heart rate. Metoprolol was an effective antihypertensive agent but decreased the heart rate. Under combined therapy with terbutaline, there was no additional blood pressure decrease, but the heart rate remained unaffected.