Plasma samples from rats flown aboard COS-MOS 2044 were analyzed for the levels of key metabolites, electrolytes, enzymes, and hormones. The major differences between the flight group and the synchronous control were elevations in glucose, cholesterol, phosphate, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate amino-transferase and decreased levels of thyroxine. Most of these differences were not mimicked by tail suspension of ground-based rats; however, both flight and suspended rats exhibited inhibited testosterone secretion. Corticosterone, immunoreactive growth hormone, and prolactin showed inconsistent differences from the various control groups, suggesting that the levels of these hormones were not due to actual or simulated microgravity.
Morphological changes were observed in the left ventricle of rat heart tissue from animals flown on the Cosmos 1887 biosatellite for 12.5 days. These tissues were compared to the synchronous and vivarium control hearts. While many normal myofibrils were observed, others exhibited ultrastructural alterations, i.e., damaged and irregular-shaped mitochondria and generalized myofibrillar edema. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the volume density data revealed a statistically significant increase in glycogen and a significant decrease in mitochondria compared to the synchronous and vivarium controls. Point counting indicated an increase in lipid and myeloid bodies and a decrease in microtubules, but these changes were not statistically significant. In addition, the flight animals exhibited some patchy loss of protofibrils (actin and myosin filaments) and some abnormal supercontracted myofibrils that were not seen in the controls. This study was undertaken to gain insight into the mechanistic aspects of cardiac changes in both animals and human beings as a consequence of space travel (1). Cardiac hypotrophy and fluid shifts have been observed after actual or simulated weightlessness and raise concerns about the functioning of the heart and circulatory system during and after travel in space (2-4).
Our study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of autologous plasma enriched with platelets as part of the complex treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) of moderate severity in dogs. In our experiment, 20 dogs of various breeds with clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca participated. The animals were divided into the experimental group and the control group, 10 dogs in each group. The animals of the control group were treated with standard treatment: local antibiotic therapy, a topical immunosuppressant (cyclosporine), and also a lubricant. In addition to standard treatment, an autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) was additionally subconjunctivally injected weekly to animals of the experimental group. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by monitoring the changes in the hydration level of the anterior segment of the eye, the cytological picture of smears and gross anatomical appearance of the front of eye. The results in experimental group demonstrated a decrease in the number of desquamated epithelial cells, as well as a more intense decrease in segmented cells. The dynamics of the reduction of the clinical manifestations of KCS in animals that used PRP as part of complex therapy is more pronounced and was quite fast. Our observations show that autologous platelet-rich plasma is a powerful protector of corneal regeneration and therefore could be recommended to use in corneal erosion, keratitis ulcers and corneal injuries, as well as a keratoprotector after surgical interventions on the cornea and intraocular structures.
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