Venous and Arterial Responses to Partial Gravity

Introduction: Chronic exposure to the weightlessness-induced cephalad fluid shift is hypothesized to be a primary contributor to the development of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) and may be associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis in the jugular vein. This study characterized the relationship between gravitational level (G_z-level) and acute vascular changes. Methods: Internal jugular vein (IJV) cross-sectional area, inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, and common carotid artery (CCA) flow were measured using ultrasound in nine subjects (5F, 4M) while seated when exposed to 1.00-G_z, 0.75-G_z, 0.50-G_z, and 0.25-G_z during parabolic flight and while supine before flight (0-G analog). Additionally, IJV flow patterns were characterized. Results: IJV cross-sectional area progressively increased from 12 (95% CI: 9-16) mm² during 1.00-G_z seated to 24 (13-35), 34 (21-46), 68 (40-97), and 103 (75-131) mm² during 0.75-G_z, 0.50-G_z, and 0.25-G_z seated and 1.00-G_z supine, respectively. Also, IJV flow pattern shifted from the continuous forward flow observed during 1.00-G_z and 0.75-G_z seated to pulsatile flow during 0.50-G_z seated, 0.25-G_z seated, and 1.00-G_z supine. In contrast, we were unable to detect differences in IVC diameter measured during 1.00-G seated and any level of partial gravity or during 1.00-G_z supine. CCA blood flow during 1.00-G seated was significantly less than 0.75-G_z and 1.00-G_z supine but differences were not detected at partial gravity levels 0.50-G_z and 0.25-G_z. Conclusions: Acute exposure to decreasing G_z-levels is associated with an expansion of the IJV and flow patterns that become similar to those observed in supine subjects and in astronauts during spaceflight. These data suggest that G_z-levels greater than 0.50-G_z may be required to reduce the weightlessness-induced headward fluid shift that may contribute to the risks of SANS and venous thrombosis during spaceflight.