Changes in urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links during Spacelab-J.

In SLJ-1 we proposed to study three major objectives. They were; 1. hormonal changes associated with fluid and electrolyte metabolism, 2. the effect of space flight on the circadian rhythms of endocrine and metabolic systems, 3. the changes in the indices of the bone and muscle metabolism during space flight. In this report, the changes in the bone metabolism during Spacelab-J will be presented with a special emphasis on urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links. Timed urine samples from three Japanese payload specialists were obtained for 3 days from May 19 to 21, 1991 (one year before the launch = L-1 year). Immediately before the launch (L-3 to L-0), urine samples were obtained from a payload specialist who was on board the Space Shuttle Endeavor (PS). During the inflight period (flight from September 3 to 10 in 1992), urine samples from the PS were collected by using Urine Monitoring System (UMS). After the landing, they were obtained from the PS for three days (R+0-R+2). Various parameters related to bone metabolism such as hydroxyproline, pyridinium cross-links and calcium were determined. It was noted that excretion of hydroxyproline decreased during the preflight periods when compared with that in the control L-1 year period. The average excretory rate during control period was 846.2 +/- 198.7 milligrams/hour (mean +/- SD), while those in the preflight 474.6 +/- 171.1 milligrams/hour, suggesting the diminished collagen intake during the preflight period. Average excretion rate of pyridinium cross-links during the first 4 mission days (MD0-MD3) was similar to that of preflight and control L-1 year period. However, it was significantly increased during the last 4 mission days (MD4-MD7). It returned to the preflight level during postflight days (R+0-R+2). Increased urinary excretion of calcium during the last 4 mission days were also observed. These results suggest that increase in bone resorption could occur during relatively short stay in microgravity.

[1]  S. Arnaud,et al.  Changes in markers of bone formation and resorption in a bed rest model of weightlessness , 1993, Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

[2]  L. Demers.  New biochemical marker for bone disease: is it a breakthrough? , 1992, Clinical chemistry.

[3]  C. Christiansen,et al.  Marked diurnal variation in urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links in premenopausal women. , 1992, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[4]  C. Christiansen,et al.  Urinary excretion of pyridinoline crosslinks correlates with bone turnover measured on iliac crest biopsy in patients with vertebral osteoporosis , 1991, Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

[5]  D Chappard,et al.  Trabecular bone remodeling after seven days of weightlessness exposure (BIOCOSMOS 1667). , 1988, The American journal of physiology.

[6]  D. Eyre,et al.  Collagen cross-linking in human bone and articular cartilage. Age-related changes in the content of mature hydroxypyridinium residues. , 1988, The Biochemical journal.

[7]  J. Reeve,et al.  Estimation of whole body bone resorption rate: a comparison of urinary total hydroxyproline excretion with two radioisotopic tracer methods in osteoporosis , 1987 .

[8]  V. Schneider,et al.  Long-term follow-up of Skylab bone demineralization. , 1980, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[9]  N. Di Ferrante,et al.  Amino aciduria in weightlessness. , 1979, Acta astronautica.

[10]  R S Johnston,et al.  Prolonged weightlessness and calcium loss in man. , 1979, Acta astronautica.

[11]  E R Morey,et al.  Inhibition of bone formation during space flight. , 1978, Science.

[12]  G. D. Whedon,et al.  Mineral and nitrogen balance study: results of metabolic observations on Skylab II 28-day orbital mission. , 1975, Acta astronautica.

[13]  G. Vose.  Review of roentgenographic bone demineralization studies of the Gemini space flights. , 1974, The American journal of roentgenology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine.

[14]  E. Mc,et al.  Circadian rhythm of urinary calcium excretion during immobilization. , 1973 .

[15]  P. B. Mack.  Bone density changes in a Macaca nemestrina monkey during the biosatellite 3 project. , 1971, Aerospace medicine.

[16]  G. D. Whedon,et al.  Mineral, electrolyte and nitrogen balance studies of the Gemini-VII fourteen-day orbital space flight. , 1969, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[17]  P. B. Mack,et al.  Bone demineralization of foot and hand of gemini-titan IV, V and VII astronauts during orbital flight. , 1967, The American journal of roentgenology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine.

[18]  A. Hodgkinson,et al.  External factors affecting diurnal variation in electrolyte excretion with particular reference to calcium and magnesium , 1963 .

[19]  S. Udenfriend,et al.  A specific method for the analysis of hydroxyproline in tissues and urine. , 1960, Analytical biochemistry.

[20]  D. Eyre.  Editorial : new biomarkers of bone resorption , 1992 .

[21]  D. Eyre.  [7] Collagen cross-linking amino acids , 1987 .

[22]  P. Johnson,et al.  Calcium and phosphorus change of the Apollo 17 crew members. , 1975, Nutrition and metabolism.