Correlations between Biochemical and Immunological Parameters in Volunteers under Conditions of 21-Day “Dry” Immersion

Exposure of volunteers to microgravity by dry immersion bed over 21 days results in gene expression changes and adaptation of T cells

“…An experiment with 21 days of DI exposure without countermeasures was carried out at the Institute of Biomedical problems, Russian Academy of Sciences/Physiology, with the participation of healthy men aged between 24 and 32 years ( 42 , 43 ). Under a period of 1 year, the volunteers were split in pairs and were submerged for 21 days in DI beds.…”

“…During DI, subjects are submerged neck down into a thermo-neutral (31°to 35°C) water bath protected by a waterproof filament (37,38,41,42). As compared to other microgravity analogs such as the head down tilt rest, DI bed volunteers more rapidly develop symptoms, which is a clear advantage for the volunteers (37,38,(40)(41)(42)(43). Results from DI are very similar to the real space missions and accurately and rapidly reproduces most of physiological effects of the space flight such as mechanical and axial unloading, physical inactivity, fluid shift, and hypodynamia (37,38,(40)(41)(42)(43).…”

“…As compared to other microgravity analogs such as the head down tilt rest, DI bed volunteers more rapidly develop symptoms, which is a clear advantage for the volunteers (37,38,(40)(41)(42)(43). Results from DI are very similar to the real space missions and accurately and rapidly reproduces most of physiological effects of the space flight such as mechanical and axial unloading, physical inactivity, fluid shift, and hypodynamia (37,38,(40)(41)(42)(43). Shorter DI exposure (5 to 7 days) is enough to simulate changes on the neuromuscular and sensorymotor systems.…”