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W Briegleb

Publications and source records attributed to W Briegleb.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Influence of accelerations on the spatial orientation of Loxodes and Paramecium.

The gravitactic ciliates Paramecium and Loxodes were cultivated for 15 days in space during the IML-2 spacelab mission. At dedicated times their behavioral responses to different accelerations between 10(-3) x g and 1.5 x g were investigated by using a slow rotating centrifuge microscope (NIZEMI). The threshold for gravitaxis of Paramecium was found to be at > 0.16 x g and < or = 0.3 x g. No adaptation of Paramecium to the conditions of weightlessness was observed over the duration of 15 days. Loxodes showed no graviresponses to increasing accelerations, though it demonstrated gravitaxis after return to earth.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1996

Acceleration-sensitivity threshold of Physarum.

Free-living cells show distinct gravisensitivities and often use the gravity ('g') vector for their spatial orientation. The rhythmic contractions of the ameboid Myxomycete (acellular slime mold) Physarum polycephalum are a sensitive parameter which can be modified by external stimuli. Space experiments and ground-based 0 x g simulation studies established that the contraction period transiently decreases after a transition from 1 x g to 0 x g with a back-regulating process starting after 30 min. For determination of the threshold of acceleration sensitivity, a slow-rotating centrifuge microscope (NIZEMI--Niedergeschwindigkeits-Zentrifugenmikroskop) was used, providing in space accelerations from 0 x g to 1.5 x g. A stepwise acceleration increase revealed that the lowest acceleration level capable of inducing a response was 0.1 x g. The response to the acceleration increase was an increase in contraction period, in contrast to a stimulus deprivation, which led to a period decrease. The time schedule of the acceleration responses and back-regulating process seems to be fixed, suggesting that every acceleration being above the threshold can induce a complete response-regulation process. The low acceleration-sensitivity threshold favors rather large and dense cell organelles as candidates for the gravity receptor in Physarum.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1996

Early development in aquatic vertebrates in near weightlessness during the D-2 Mission STATEX project.

Aboard the German-Spacelab-Mission D-2 the project "Gravity Perception and Neuronal Plasticity (STATEX II)" was performed. STATEX is for STATolith EXperiment. Objects were growing tadpoles of the South African Toad (Xenopus laevis D.) and a juvenile cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). The results give a broader base for the understanding of how environmental stimuli (e.g. linear accelerations) affect the development and function of the gravity perceiving systems in these two vertebrates. These systems are accepted as models for the human vestibulum. Results of experiments in hyper-g (up to 5 g), simulated weightlessness (Fast-rotating-clinostat) and parabolic flights are compared and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gravitational response of the slime mold Physarum.

The acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum is used as a model system to investigate the graviresponse of single cells which possess no receptors specialized for the perception of gravity. To obtain insights into the gravity-signal transduction mechanism the light response of the cell is used: Macroplasmodia of the slime mold show clear geo- and phototaxes. Gravity increases and white light decreases transiently the contraction frequency of plasmodial strands whereby both responses follow the same time pattern. Since mitochondria play a major role in changing the contraction rhythm in response to light and gravity stimuli, the simultaneous and subsequent inductions of the opposing light and gravity responses and their mutual influences on one another were investigated. The experiments were performed in weightlessness (0 g)--simulated on the fast-rotating clinostat as well as in actual weightlessness during the IML-1 Space Shuttle mission. The results indicate that mitochondria (chondriome) are part of the acceleration-stimulus reaction chain in Physarum. Two models for a direct gravireceptor mechanism are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gravity effects on membrane processes.

Application of the Gouy-Chapman-Debye-Hückel (GCDH) theory to a model membrane in contact with electrolytes of various concentrations and composition predict density variations within an interfacial layer. Assuming that on cellular dimensions hydrodynamics can be applied (the objections are briefly discussed) two types of gravity effects can be defined, 1. convection along the surface of vertically oriented membranes and 2. surface potential variations by layer deformations at horizontally oriented membranes. Both effects should affect transport across the layer to the membrane surface and across the membrane. According to the theoretical predictions first experiments with gramicidin channels incorporated into artificial phosphatidylserine bilayer membranes show a significant difference in single channel currents in vertical and horizontal membranes. The complexity of biological membrane functions requires investigation of isolated membrane surface reactions and transport systems to study the gravisensitivity for each process separately.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1994

Protozoa as model systems for the study of cellular responses to altered gravity conditions.

The orientation behavior of Paramecium changed in a similar way after transition to conditions of free-fall in a sounding rocket and after transition to conditions of simulated weightlessness on a fast rotating clinostat. After a period of residual orientation, Paramecium cells distributed themselves randomly 80 s (120 s) after onset of free-fall (simulated weightlessness). Swimming velocity increased significantly; however, the increase was transient and subsided after 3 min in the rocket experiments, while the velocity remained enhanced even during 2 h of rotation on a fast clinostat. Trichocysts were present and without morphological changes in Paramecium cells which had been exposed to a rocket flight, as well as to fast or slow rotation on a clinostat. Regeneration of the oral apparatus of Stentor and morphogenesis of Eufolliculina proceeded normally on the clinostat. The results demonstrate that the clinostat is a useful tool to simulate the conditions of weightlessness on earth and to detect gravisensitive cellular functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The reaction of Xenopus laevis Daudin (South African toad) to linear accelerations.

Preparing the German Spacelab Mission D-2 project "Gravity Perception and Neuronal Plasticity"--STATEX II--ground based experiments have been performed with larvae of the amphibian vertebrate Xenopus laevis Daud. to study the reactions to different levels of acceleration forces and profiles. The larvae have been exposed to accelerations of up to 5 g for different time periods using a modified laboratory centrifuge and the NIZEMI (Niedergeschwindigkeits-Zentrifugen-Mikroskop) which allows direct observation and video documentation. The results will be discussed and compared with those of the D1-Mission, parabolic flights, and simulated weightlessness.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1994

Behavior of free-swimming cells under various accelerations.

The different steps of the gravity signal-transduction chain on the cellular level are not identified. In our experiments performed up to now we mainly stressed our attention on the last step, the response of the cells. Swimming behavior is a suitable indicator for the physiological status of a Paramecium cell. Depending on membrane potential and/or concentrations of Ca++, cGMP and cAMP the beating direction and the beating velocity of the cilia are influenced in a characteristical way leading to a changed swimming activity of the cell. The behavior of Paramecium is influenced by various stimuli from their environment. Previous studies have demonstrated that under controlled conditions Paramecium shows a clear gravity-dependent behavior resulting in negative gravitaxis and gravikinesis (speed regulation in dependence of gravity). By changing the orienting stimulus (gravity) we expected changes of the swimming behavior. Additional experiments were performed using pawn mutant d4-500r. Due to defective Ca(2+)-channels the membrane of this mutant cannot depolarize. As a consequence d4-500r cannot perform phobic responses and swim backwards. Comparative experiments are also performed with the ciliate Loxodes striatus. In contrast to Paramecium this ciliate possesses statocyst-like organelles--the Müller Organelles.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Swimming velocity of Paramecium under the conditions of weightlessness.

During the 6 min-lasting "free-fall conditions" (4 x 10(-6) g) of the parabolic flight of a sounding rocket Paramecium aurelia cells showed an increase of 7.5 % in their mean swimming velocity. A detailed analysis revealed that the kinetic response was transient: after 3 min the velocity decreased to the speed of the former horizontal swimming at 1 g. Control experiments simulating the influence of vibration and hypergravity during launch of the rocket lead to the conclusion that the increase of the velocity during the parabolic flight was exclusively induced by the transition to 0 g. An increased velocity was also observed under the condition of simulated weightlessness on a fast-rotating clinostat microscope.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1992

Gravity effects on biological systems.

Theoretical investigations of the membrane-solution interface predict different effects of gravity on vertically and horizontally oriented planar membranes. Single channel events of gramicidin incorporated into phosphatidylserine planar bilayer membranes were measured in 0.1 M KCl solution, pH 7, at room temperature. The potential difference across the membrane was set to +/- 70 mV. The mean channel current was observed to be about 20% higher in horizontally oriented membranes compared to vertical membranes. This is in good agreement with the theoretical considerations and demonstrates that gravity does affect membrane processes by interaction with the membrane-solution interface which is a ubiquitous structure in biological systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Swimming behavior of Paramecium--first results with the low-speed centrifuge microscope (NIZEMI).

The low-speed centrifuge microscope NIZEMI (= Nieder-Geschwindigkeits-Zentrifugen-Mikroskop) is an excellent tool with which to investigate the effects of slightly increased gravity in the fields of biology and material sciences. We investigated the swimming behavior of Paramecium in the NIZEMI, by aid of a computer-controlled image analysis system. In the range of acceleration (1 g to 5 g), cells retained their swimming capability, did not sediment, and even increased the precision of their negative gravitaxis but reduced their mean swimming velocity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Some qualitative and quantitative aspects of the fast-rotating clinostat as a research tool.

In 1958 the geneticist H.J. Muller proposed an extension of the principle of the (slow) plant clinostat which --to a certain extent--abolishes g effects on plant growth (geotropism). Muller predicted that a feeling of weightlessness would be experienced by a human being attached to a clinostat platform, the rotation speed of which is enhanced compared to that of the plant clinostat. This method (called fast-rotating or fast clinostat) was developed by the author in the mid 1960s to investigate the effects of weightlessness on small living objects. This chapter describes the method qualitatively on the basis of a macroscopic functional model and of empirical results obtained using a fast-rotating clinostat microscope. Some practical hints in using the slow and fast clinostat principles are given.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Epidermal growth factor-induced cell rounding is sensitive to simulated microgravity.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces rapid rounding of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. This process is dependent upon temperature and EGF concentration. To investigate the possible influence of gravity variations on EGF-induced cell rounding of A431 cells, experiments were performed using a fast-rotating clinostat and centrifuge, thereby simulating microgravity and higher gravity values, respectively. We demonstrated that simulated microgravity conditions enhance EGF-induced cell rounding significantly, whereas hypergravity values do not show significant effects on this process. These results suggest that simulated microgravity modulates growth factor-induced signal transduction.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1989

Potential sites for the perception of gravity in the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum.

Recently a gravisensitivity of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum, which possesses no specialized gravireceptor, could be established by conducting experiments under simulated and under real near weightlessness. In these experiments macroplasmodia showed a modulation of their contraction rhythm followed by regulation phenomena. Until now the perception mechanism for the gravistimulus is unknown, but several findings indicate the involvement of mitochondria: A) During the impediment of respiration the 0g-reaction is inhibited and the regulation is reduced. B) The response to a light stimulus and the following regulation phenomena strongly resemble the behavior during exposure to 0g, the only difference is that the two reactions are directed into opposite directions. In the blue-light reaction a flavin of the mitochondrial matrix seems to be involved in the light perception. C) The contraction rhythm as well as its modulations are coupled to rhythmic changes in the levels of ATP and calcium ions, involving the mitochondria as sites of energy production and of Ca(++)-storage. So the mitochondria could be the site of the regulation and they possibly are the receptor sites for the light and gravity stimuli. Also the observation of a morphologic polarity of the slime mold's plasmodial strands has to be considered: Cross-sections reveal that the ectoplasmic wall surrounding the streaming endoplasm is much thinner on the physically lower side than on the upper side of the strand--this applies to strands lying on or hanging on a horizontal surface. So, in addition to the mitochondria, also the morphologic polarity may be involved in the perception mechanism of the observed gravisensitivity and of the recently established geotaxis. The potential role of the nuclei and of the contractile elements in the perception of gravity is also discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗