Kashirina, Daria N., et al. “Proteomic characterization of dry blood spots of healthy women during simulation the microgravity effects using dry immersion.” Frontiers in Physiology 12 (2022): 753291. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.753291

Abstract

Dry immersion (DI) is one of the most widely used terrestrial microgravity models. Dry immersion accurately and quickly reproduces most of the physiological effects of the early period of space flights. The model simulates such factors of space flight as lack of support, mechanical and axial unloading, lack of physical activity. Almost complete immersion in water makes it possible to simulate cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and other effects of microgravity. There is a 17% loss of plasma volume observed after 2 days of DI and which is comparable to post-flight observation. Dry immersion experiment used as microgravity model leads to the body fluid media displacement as in space flight, which is associated with a uniform compression of the subject’s body. Body fluid media displacement leads to a decrease in heart rate within a few hours after immersion in water. At the same time, the heart rate is reduced by five beats per minute, and the blood pressure is reduced by 5 mm Hg in the first 4 h. Similar changes in heart size and stroke volume are observed both in DI and in space flight. Dry immersion also causes muscle wasting and changes in the structure of the musculoskeletal system similar in nature and timing of development to those changes that occur in space flight. This is mainly due to the absence of gravitational stress exerted on the object of study. Although the physiological response of the organism to DI conditions is similar to that during the space flight there are some differences that need to be studied on molecular level.