Effects of Space Mission Factors on the Morphology and Function of Endothelial Cells

• Published in: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine Vol. 154; no. 6; pp. 796 - 801
• Main Authors: Kapitonova, M. Yu, Kuznetsov, S. L., Froemming, G. R. A., Muid, S., Nor-Ashikin, M. N. K., Otman, S., Shahir, A. R. M., Nawawi, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-04-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell Biology; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Cell Proliferation; Cell Shape; Cell Size; Cells; Cells, Cultured; Endothelium; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - physiology; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - ultrastructure; Internal Medicine; Laboratory Medicine; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial DNA; Pathology; Space Flight; Tubulin - metabolism; Weightlessness; scanning electron microscopy; endothelium; fl uorescent microscopy; morphometry; zero gravity
• ISSN: 0007-4888; 1573-8221
• DOI: 10.1007/s10517-013-2059-7

The structure and functions of endothelial cells after space mission were studied by electron and laser confocal microscopy, image analysis, and MTT test. The endothelial cells changed signifi cantly (proliferative activity, size, contours, shape, distribution of mitochondria and microtubules) in comparison with controls on the Earth. These changes indicated injuries in the cytoskeleton and impairment of the barrier function of the cells, which presumably contributed to the development of endothelial dysfunction.