Some reptiles, particularly turtles, are The biological effect of the complex of space 



convenient for specific biological investigations flight factors and other conditions originating 



in space for a number of reasons. The organiza- during the experiment was estimated by using some 



tion level in these animals is not much lower hematological tests, electrocardiography, a number 



than in mammals, moreover, no complex special of patho-morpholog ical and h istochem ical methods 



systems are needed, and they may be fixed rigid- of investigation. The electrocardiography was 



ly on board the spacecraft. Taking account of carried out prior to the beginning of the experi- 



seasonal differences, the subject is accessible ment, after circumlunar flight, and return of the 



for research at any time of the year. For these animals to the laboratory, 

 general considerations, tests with turtles were 



included in the space biology research program. During dissection of the animals, combined 



tissue blocks from pieces of intestine, spleen, 



Steppe turtles (Testudo horsfieldi Gray) testes and seminal vesicle, liver, kidney, and 



were on the Zond-5" which flew around the moon heart were formed by an original method developed 



together with other biological subjects. In all specially for subsequent histological and histo- 



8 adultturtles 6-7 years old, and 340-400 g in chemical investigations, 

 weight, were examined. Two animals (the test 



group) were on the probe (Fig. l), two (the The principle behind the method of combined 



control group) were transported to the cosmo- tissue blocks is that an organ taken from the 



drome and back, and four turtles (intact) were test animal is glued to filter paper together with 



in a vivarium. the same organ removed from a control and intact 



animal. The tissue blocks thus prepared are 



The animals were delivered to the laboratory frozen in dry ice and combined sections are pre- 



two months before the beginning of the experi- pared in a cryostat for h i stochem ical investigations, 



ment. During this time, the turtles were Analogous blocks, not frozen, are placed in a 



weighed repeatedly, the peripheral blood was fixing mixture, carried out by dehydrating and 



investigated and an EKG was recorded at three compressing media to obtain sections treated by 



standard terminals. Moreover, the alimentary histological methods. Preparation of the ections 



activity of the animals was observed carefully. on a microtome of combined blocks, enclosed in 



Their daily ration was meat (2 g), cabbage (lO g), paraffin and stained by appropriate methods, was 



carrots (10 g), bread (lO g). carried out in the customary order. Therefore, 



under one cover glass we had an identical thick- 



The experimental animals were placed in in- ness, prepared under identical conditions, of 



dividual narrow cages on the probe, in which combined sections of organs of the different 



they were practically unable to move. Contained animals. This permitted a reliable comparison 



in these same cages were the control animals. between the structural changes in the orqans of 



The experimental and control turtles received the test, control and intact animals. The sections 



no food or water throughout the whole experi- were colored by hema toxyl i n-eos in, ribonuc.eic 



ment, the intact turtles were in free cages in a acid (RNA) was revealed by methyl green pvronine 



customary environment. according to Brash, glycogen according to Shabadash, 



lipides by scarlet, iron according to Perls. Also 



The turtles were put on board the "Zond-5" assayed were the activities of succinate- 



on 2 September 1968. From that time on they dehydrogenase (SDG) according to Nachlas et al., 



ceased to receive food. As is known, lift-off monoam i noox i dase (MAO) according to Glenner, 



was on 15 September. After the circumlunar alkaline phosphatase (AP) according to Gomor 



flight and a return to earth, the probe splashed (E. Pierce, 1§62) , and of alpha-glycerophosphate 



down on 21 September in the Indian Ocean. The dehydrogenase according to D. Quadlino et al. 



subject reached Bombay 3 October, and was re- ( i960) in a modification by R. P. NartisissjV (1968). 

 turned to Moscow on 7 October. Pa tho-morpholog i - 



cal investigations on the turtles were carried Externally, and in behavior, the animals of 



out on 11 October. all three groups displayed no differences at the 



time of exam i nat i on. 

 As is seen from the cited sequence of carry- 

 ing out the experiment, the te-t animals were The alimentary activity in both tte test and 



subjected to 39 days of starvation, flight fac- control animals flying to the cosmodrome and in 



tors lasting ] days, the effect of a tropical the intact animals in the vivarium wds identically 



climate and conditions associated with a stay high. Weight loss of the animals that flew in 



in the ocean after splashdown, and with trans- the probe was about 10?. Weight loss of the con- 



portation via ship and aircraft. According to trol animals was only 5?. No substantial differ- 



results of dosimetry conducted en the probe, ences in the peripheral blood of the examined 



the total radiation dose received by the test animal-, was detected. 

 animals did not exceed 3.5 rad. 



c 1 An analysis of the electrocardiograms recorded 



txcluded from the control group was the in- at different times before and after the flight did 



Tiuence on the animals of not only space flight not disclose any noticeable differences in the 



1*1 T S ' w th£ tr °P ical climate and cardiac activity of either the test or eont-ol ani- 



add.tional transportation conditions. mals> According to our data, the frequency of 



cardiac contraction in the animals in the active 



