PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S ): Stephen L. Kimzey 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : Hematology and Immunology Studies, M115 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Skylab 2, 3, 4 



CLASSIFICATION : Human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Hematology, Immunology 



OBJECTIVES : To examine critical physiological blood parameters relative to a 

 stable state of equilibrium between certain blood components and evaluate the 

 effects of weightlessness upon these parameters, and to provide other data on 

 blood and blood circulation which will assist in the interpretation of 

 hematology and immunity, nutrition and musculoskeletal function experiments. 



PROTOCOL : Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from the crew and 

 ground-control subjects periodically during the preflight, inflight, and 

 postflight phases of each mission. Depending on the assay to be conducted, 

 different anticoagulents were used. All samples were processed or stabilized 

 within minutes of collection. Inflight samples were collected in Na 2 EDTA and 

 immediately separated by centrifugation into plasma and cellular phases. The 

 inflight samples were frozen at -20 degrees C and stored onboard until 

 recovery, whereby the specimens were then transferred to the lab for analysis. 



EQUIPMENT : Blood collection device. 



RESULTS : No significant changes in the plasma protein profiles were found in 

 the immunology studies. An insignificant reduced human lymphocyte response 

 (uptake of H uridine or H thymidine) to phytohemagglutinin on R+0 was noted. 

 It was within normal range on days R+3-7. Suppression of T-cell numbers (by 

 E-rosette) , an elevation of B-cell numbers, and normal total lymphocytes were 

 found. 



RBC count was unchanged at R+0, but slightly reduced by R+7. WBC was elevated 

 at R+0 and reticulocyte count was decreased at R+0, but elevated at R+7. 



A loss of red cell mass and plasma volume and reduction in hemoglobin 

 concentration were found. There was a shift in the specific gravity in the 

 red cell population. K content of the red cells remained unchanged. There 

 was a significant variation in the distribution of cell types inflight. An 

 increase in echinocytes was found inflight with immediate postflight reversal. 

 Other types were unchanged. 



CONCLUSIONS : The increased amount of physical exercise in the later Skylab 

 missions may have resulted in a prevention of alterations in plasma protein 

 profiles. The exact cause and impact of the reduced lymphocyte responsiveness 



50 



