Changes of human cerebral bottom arterial hemodynamics during 21 d head-down tilt (-6 degrees) bed-rest

To investigate the change of human cerebral bottom arterial hemodynamics during 21 d simulated weightlessness.

21 d -6 degrees head-down tilt bed rest (HDT) were used to simulate weightlessness. 6 healthy male, aged 24.8 +/- 6.1 served as subjects. Systolic blood velocity (Vs), diastolic blood velocity (Vd), mean blood velocity (Vm), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and other indices of middle cerebral arteries (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were measured by transcranial ultrasound Doppler before HDT and on day 0 (D0), 1, 3, 7, 10, 21 of HDT. HUT +75 degrees 20 min orthostatic tolerance tests were done on day -1, 10, and 21 of HDT.

During HUT +75 degrees 20 min orthostatic tolerance test on day 10 and 21 of HDT, the average standing time were shorter than that of the pre-HDT values (P<0.05). On day 3 and 21 of HDT, Vs of right MCA reduced significantly than pre-HDT (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On day 1, 3, 7, 10 and 21 of HDT, Vs of right MCA were obviously lower than that on D0 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Left MCA Vs on D0 increased significantly than that of pre-HDT (P<0.05), and both were significantly higher than those of the 3rd day of HDT (P<0.01). Right MCA Vm on the 3rd and 21st day of HDT were significantly lower than those pre-HDT and D0 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On day 10 of HDT, Vm of right MCA were significantly reduced than that on D0 (P<0.05). Both MCA bilateral velocity difference (right Vm-left Vm) on the 3rd, 10th, 21st day of HDT, and MCA inter-hemispheric asymmetry index on the 10th, 21st day of HDT were significantly lower than that of pre-HDT (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

21 d HDT bed-rest decreased orthostatic tolerance, Vs of both side MCA, and Vm of right MCA. Lower Vs of both side MCA and the inter-hemispheric asymmetry of MCA during HDT maybe responsible, in part, for the increased risk of orthostatic intolerance.