Journal of Applied Physiology Virginia Commonwealth University
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J Appl Physiol 85: 2100-2105, 1998;
8750-7587/98 $5.00
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Vol. 85, Issue 6, 2100-2105, December 1998

Changes in lower limb volume in humans during parabolic flight

Olivier Bailliart1, André Capderou2, Bernard P. Cholley1, Christian Kays3, Daniel Rivière3, Pierre Téchoueyres4, Jean-Luc Lachaud4, and Pierre Vaïda4

1 Services des Explorations Fonctionnelles et d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Lariboisière, 75010 Paris; 2 Laboratoire de Physiologie, Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue, 92350 Le Plessis-Robinson, Université Paris 11 and Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur: Equipe Associée 2397; 3 Laboratoire de Physiologie, Médecine Aérospatiale, Université Bordeaux 2, F 33076 Bordeaux Cedex; and 4 Laboratoire des Adaptations de l'Organisme à l'Exercice Musculaire, Unité de Formation et de Recherche Médecine Toulouse-Purpan, F 31073 Toulouse Cedex, France

Variations in gravity [head-to-foot acceleration (Gz)] induce hemodynamic alterations as a consequence of changes in hydrostatic pressure gradients. To estimate the contribution of the lower limbs to blood pooling or shifting during the different gravity phases of a parabolic flight, we measured instantaneous thigh and calf girths by using strain-gauge plethysmography in five healthy volunteers. From these circumferential measurements, segmental leg volumes were calculated at 1, 1.7, and 0 Gz. During hypergravity, leg segment volumes increased by 0.9% for the thigh (P < 0.001) and 0.5% for the calf (P < 0.001) relative to 1-Gz conditions. After sudden exposure to microgravity following hypergravity, leg segment volumes were reduced by 3.5% for the thigh (P < 0.001) and 2.5% for the calf (P < 0.001) relative to 1.7-Gz conditions. Changes were more pronounced at the upper part of the leg. Extrapolation to the whole lower limb yielded an estimated 60-ml increase in leg volume at the end of the hypergravity phase and a subsequent 225-ml decrease during microgravity. Although quantitatively less than previous estimations, these blood shifts may participate in the hemodynamic alterations observed during hypergravity and weightlessness.

gravitational physiology; weightlessness; mild hypergravity; venous return; plethysmography


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