Digestive tract of rats after hypokinesia and hypergravitation

We found in rats submitted to a 7 days interval of hypokinesia a decreased glycoprotein content in salivary mucous glands, gastric and intestinal mucosa, an increased glycoprotein content and an increased content of leucine-aminopeptidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase. Similar changes were found after a short interval of centrifugation (+6 Gz, 10 min). These nonspecific responses were more accentuated if the hypergravitation was performed after 7 days of hypokinesia. We reproduced this way this events that occurred in space flight and deacceleration before landing.