PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S ): Philip O'B. Montgomery, J. E. Cook, R. C. 



Reynolds, J. S. Paul, L. Hayflick, D. Stock, W. W. 

 Schulz, Stephen L. Kimzey, Robert G. Thirolf, 

 Thomas D. Rogers, and J. Murrell 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : The Response of Single Human Cells to Zero Gravity, 



S0 15 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Skylab -3 



CLASSIFICATION : Human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Cell biology 



OBJECTIVES : To detect the effects of zero-gravity on cell growth rates and 

 cell structure and function. 



PROTOCOL : A strain of diploid human embryonic cells (WI-38) was used for this 

 study. Cell growth rates were observed by light microscopy, transmission and 

 scanning electron microscopy, and histochemistry. Studies of the cell 

 function and cell cycle were performed by time lapse motion picture photo- 

 graphy and microspectrophotometry. Study of returned living cells included 



ityping, G- and C-banding, and analyses of the culture media. Ground 

 control units were used for comparison of results. 



EQUIPMENT : Woodlawn Wanderer 9 with a camera-microscope system, specimen 

 chambers, and a growth curve module. 



RESULTS : Human embryonic lung cells showed normal growth, cell cycle times, 

 G- and C- chromosome banding and rearrangement, DNA, and mitotic index. Phase, 

 electron and scanning microscopy showed no differneces. 



CONCLUSIONS : Within the limits of the experimental design, it was found that 

 a zero-gravity environment produced on detectable effects on human embryonic 

 lung cells in tissue culture. 



PUBLICATIONS : 403, 404, 405, 406 



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