Purpose: To evaluate the contribution of the hypercapnic exercise pressure response to the etiology of Space flight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). Methods: Following a 10 minute baseline period in the 6°head down tilt position (mimicking the cephalad shift of body fluids observed in space) subjects aged 50 to 60 years conducted a 3-minute handgrip (HG) exercise at 30% of their maximum handgrip force on two occasions: on one when breathing a normocapnic, and the other a hypercapnic gas mixture (1% CO2, 20% O2). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), intraocular pressure (IOP), heart rate and HG force were measured. Results: The HG exercise caused an increase in MAP, and IOP. Whereas hypercapnia did not affect MAP, it exacerbated the IOP response. Conclusions: Resistive exercise in conditions simulating those on the ISS causes a deleterious increase in IOP, which may over the course of a long-term space mission, impact on retinal morphology and function.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 16011523