PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S ): Allan A. Katzberg 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : The Effect of Space Flights on Living Human Cells 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Discoverer XVII 



CLASSIFICATION : human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Cell biology, Behavioral science 



OBJECTIVES : To study traumatic effects of spaceflight on living human cells. 



PROTOCOL : Rose chambers were seeded with about 100,000 cells of both 



conjunctival and synovial cells. The medium consisted of 2cc salt solution 



and 10$ horse serum. Ground and laboratory controls were set up. Twelve days 



after preparation, the cultures were flown, and were returned to the lab 16 

 days after preparation for analysis. 



EQUIPMENT : Rose chambers, 10% horse serum, refrigeration units, salt 

 solution, chemical dosimeters, alanine, albumin, silver-activated phosphate 

 glass rods, neutron sensitive film, Ansco 552 film, nuclear track. 



RESULTS : Preliminary observation indicated that the cells were in an advanced 

 state of degeneration. On the 12th day, there were signs of survival, and 8 

 days later, there was new growth in the flight cultures. The mortality rate 

 was the same in control and flight samples. 



CONCLUSIONS : The degeneration of the cells was probably due to exhaustion of 

 the nutrient media. Since the mortality rate was the same inflight and the 

 ground controls, radiation alone cannot be held solely responsible for the 

 cellular death and damage that occurred. 



PUBLICATIONS : 305, 306, 307, 308 



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