Animal Models in Space Research

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Animal models in space research

Merel Van Walleghem

[email protected]

Is the space environment suitable for human presence?

st Is the1 passengersspace environment in a hot air balloon suitable: duck, for rooster human & sheep presence?

All 3 animals survived the flight

Humans followed

 experienced the symptoms of hypoxia

Copyright © 2014 3 SCK•CEN Spaceflight history Preparation for human spaceflight  1950’s Is the Decision space environmentmade to explore suitable space for human presence? Extensive animal experimentation in both US and Soviet/Russian space programs in order to

 Test the country’s ability to launch a living organism into space and bring it back alive and unharmed

 Collect medical information and test the concepts used to place humans in space

Fruit flies

Explore effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes

I died before launch because of breathing difficulties II, III & IV survived the flight but died due to parachute recovery system failure

Copyright © 2014 6 SCK•CEN Animals in space Suborbital flights: V2 rocket  1950 Mouse Photographed in flight but did not survive impact Record the conscious reactions of an animal to changing gravity conditions  mouse retained normal muscular coordination and at ease when inverted as when upright

Copyright © 2014 7 SCK•CEN Animals in space Suborbital flights: Aerobee rocket  1951 Albert V Rocket crashed after parachute failure Albert VI + 11 mice Albert VI died after landing due to hyperthermia awaiting the recovery team 2 mice in rotating drum 1 mouse vestibular apparatus removed  fine in space 1 mouse normal  appeared disturbed

Patricia in seated position and Michael lying  test differences during rapid acceleration

Successful flight and capsule recovered safely by descending with a parachute = big step forward in American space flight

Soviets decided to use dogs

Thought to be less agitated in flight Could endure longer periods of inactivity than other animals Easy to train: simulate extreme g forces in centrifuges

Other Russian dog flights followed with varying degrees of success

Electrodes to monitor vital signs Pressurized cabin Food and water dispensed in a gelatinized form

Although she did not survive, her flight proved that a living organism could be launched into orbit and survive microgravity

First human in space & to orbit the Earth Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin

 China Mice and rats 2 dogs

After the Moon landing in July 1969 Role of animals in space downgraded to biological research payloads

Help to understand the long term health effects associated with the space environment

Copyright © 2014 16 SCK•CEN Animals in space 1960s Apollo  1966 Fruit flies, parasitic wasps, beetles and frog eggs along with bacteria, amoebae, plants & fungi  1970 2 bullfrogs  better understand space motion sickness  1972 5 pocket mice housed in a self-sustaining, hermetically sealed, cylindrical aluminum canister  study space radiation hazards

Arabella  1st spider webs

Pocket mice  study circadian rhythm

Mummichog  1st fish

 USSR Bion programme Tortoises, 1st rats, mummichog, zebra fish, tritons, insects

Copyright © 2014 18 SCK•CEN Bion programme  1966-1996 Unmanned biosatellites in near-earth orbit International Platform for launching fundamental space biology and biomedical experiments into space Primates, tortoises, rodents, insects, cells, plants & fungi

 Longer and longer Russian missions aboard the Saluyt & Mir stations

 US Space Shuttle program Spacelab (1983-1998) and Spacehab (1993-2007) modules More suitable environment for space biology research  including animal holding facilities, refrigerators/freezers, measurement devices and workstations

 ESA Columbus module Contains the Biolab and the European physiology module for biological experiments

 JAXA Kibo module Largest single ISS module

Throughout the last decades, research was performed on a wide variety of animals to study the effect of microgravity on biology including

 monkeys  newts  dogs  fruit flies  crickets  snails  mice  fish  rats  insect eggs  frogs  quail eggs and more

Determining the best animal model not always straightforward ! Take into account operational and logistic constraints such as size, mission duration and maintenance requirements

 Bacteria and cell cultures  genetic changes related to µg easy to maintain and short cycle  Aquatic species  fertilisation and embryonic development gravity sensing  Insects  circadian rhythms

 Mammals  human adaptation to space and health implications

C. Elegans Yeast E. Coli

Fruit fly Zebrafish Mouse