VISUALIZATION OF THE MICROCIRCULATION IN WEIGHTLESSNESS (µGµScan)

During weightlessness, the cardiovascular system is subject to rapid changes which has been demonstrated in studies of short term (Space Shuttle) and long term missions to Skylab, MIR, and the International Space Station (Nicogossian et al., 1989; Blomquist, 1994; Platts et al., 2014). There is also evidence for changes in the blood vessel structure, the metabolism and the responses to vasodilator and constrictor substances that might have long-term health consequences resembling the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system (Hughson and Shoemaker, 2004). Cardiovascular adaptations cause an increased incidence of postflight orthostatic intolerance (fainting), decreased cardiac output and reduced exercise capacity. Besides these postflight effects, weightlessness could also have harmful consequences during the flight. For example, it has been shown that cardiac arrhythmia may occur during space missions, even in healthy individuals (Convertino, 2009).

To understand the cardiovascular reactions of the human body to changing conditions of gravity is thus an important aim of space science.

While non-invasive imaging of microcirculation is a very promising tool to evaluate cardiovascular condition, knowledge on the involvement of the microcirculation in cardiovascular alterations induced by weightlessness is very limited and further research in this field seems promising. Before using a non-invasive technique for imaging the microcirculation during space flights, it has to be evaluated on earth.

Different proven simulation models exist for investigating the effects of weightlessness on the human body under terrestrial conditions: head down bed rest, dry and wet immersion, and parabolic flights. Among these models, only parabolic flight recreates a real state of weightlessness (see the participant document of information for a description of parabolic flights). Cardiovascular studies have often been performed during parabolic flights. Within the limitations inherent to the method (short duration of weightlessness - about 21 s - following and followed by hypergravity 20 s periods at 1.8g), some remarkable results have been published over the years.

The aim of our research approach is to test feasibility of the in vivo evaluation of the microcirculation in parabolic flight in order to be able to better describe cardiovascular response mechanisms under these conditions. In this context, we expect alterations in the microcirculatory flow during the weightlessness period of parabolic flight.

Our approach might help develop a diagnostic tool to more easily identify weightlessness-induced cardiovascular diseases and improve strategies for adapting astronauts to weightlessness prior to the space mission.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: weightlessness (parabolic flight)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Caen, France
    • Caen University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 67 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers (men or women)
• Aged from 18 to 67
• Affiliated to a Social Security system and, for non-French resident, holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Who accepted to take part in the study
• Who have given their written stated consent
• Who have passed a medical examination similar to a standard aviation medical examination for private pilot aptitude (JAR FCL3 Class 2 medical examination). There will be no additional test performed for subject selection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons who took part in a previous biomedical research protocol, of which exclusion period is not terminated
• Pregnant women (urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Functional capillary density; Functional capillary density during weightlessness	Other: weightlessness (parabolic flight); weightlessness (parabolic flight)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Functional capillary density	baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Caen

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 11, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 7, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): June 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physical Phenomena; Astronomical Phenomena; Hypogravity; Gravity, Altered; Gravitation; Weightlessness
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17-096

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No