Modulation of cell mutability by serum factors from volunteers who experienced head-down-tilt bed rest

Head-down-tilt bed rest (BR) is utilized to mimic a microgravity environment. In this study, we examined whether the modulating activity of serum factors on cell mutability was changed in seventeen volunteers subjected to BR. For comparison, serum was comparatively obtained from seven volunteers who experienced the parabolic flight (PF). Cultured human cells were treated with serum and then irradiated with UV or X-ray. Mutagenicity was estimated by identification of K-ras codon 12 base substitution mutation, following PCR and differential dot-blot hybridization. Modulating activity was detected in one sample from each of post-BR and post-PF serum.