Approach to Elucidating the Influences and Factors Affecting Circulation System in Humans in Space Environment

Abstract

Many physiological changes associated with spaceflight, including decreases in orthostatic tolerance, exercise capacity, and blood volume have been reported. Orthostatic intolerance is a problem affecting many astronauts immediately postspaceflight. In particular, the relationship between orthostatic intolerance and cerebral autoregulation has been the focus of study in our research group. Although impairment of cerebral autoregulation was speculated to be one of the factors resulting in reduced post flight orthostatic tolerance, a 2-wk spaceflight study revealed that human cerebral autoregulation is preserved or even improved during and immediately after spaceflight in nonsymptomatic astronauts. To investigate the influences of the different kinds of reduction in central blood volume, we performed two ground-based studies. It is suggested that the mild intravascular dehydration partly explains the improved dynamic cerebral autoregulation observed during and immediately after a short-term spaceflight. Moreover, we also studied the relationship between orthostatic intolerance and cerebral autoregulation under hyperthermic conditions, because hyperthermia leads to orthostatic intolerance. Furthermore, we planned to conduct a study at the International Space Station (ISS) and ground-based studies to elucidate the influences and factors affecting the circulation system in humans in a space environment.