[Effect of weightlessness on the DNA replicative function of rat hepatocytes]

The replicative function of DNA of liver cells of rats exposed to strong stress-effects, e.g. suspension for 2.5 hours a day for 6 days, decreased. The rat studies onboard biosatellites of the Cosmos series have demonstrated that a prolonged exposure to microgravity (up to 22 days) is not a stressogenic factor for the DNA synthetic system of liver cells. The transition from 1 g to microgravity cannot be viewed as a strong stressor either, because the rate of DNA synthesis in liver cells at an early period of adaptation to microgravity remains within the normal limits. However, this parameter decreases significantly during the recovery period following 18-22-day flights. Therefore changes in cellular processes related to the DNA replicating function in hepatocytes should be expected to occur in the postflight period rather than at an early period of adaptation to microgravity.