Neale LS, Hamilton A, Cymerman A, Trad L, Sams CF.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1989 May; 60: 510.
Biomedical Laboratories Branch, KRUG International, Houston, TX.
INTRODUCTION. Cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure have been suggested as contributing factors in the development of space adaptation syndrome. These factors may be a result of the headward fluid shift that occurs upon exposure to microgravity. In tandem with an altitude study, we investigated hypoxia-induced cerebral morphological changes using digital image analysis. This method allowed quantitation of cerebral ventricular size. METHODS. Eight subjects spent 48 hours at a simulated altitude of 15,000 ft. in a decompression chamber. Computer tomography (CT) scans of the head were obtained on two control subjects and all test subjects pre- and post-chamber. An extra-cranial marker was used to ensure comparable CT slices were analyzed for each subject. The horizontal images were digitized and the area of the ventricles was quantitated by a measurement software program (Peceptive Systems). RESULTS. An average decrease of 24% in ventricular size was observed after altitude exposure whereas less than a 5% change occurred in the controls. CONCLUSION. Digital image analysis provides a non-invasive, highly sensitive method for assessing variations in ventricular area in response to volume changes within the cranial vault.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Altitude
- Anoxia
- Brain
- Brain Edema
- Brain Neoplasms
- Cerebral Ventricles
- Intracranial Hypertension
- Microscopy, Electron
- Skull
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- methods
- radiography
- NASA Center JSC
- NASA Discipline Number 18-10
- NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
- NASA Program Biomedical Research
Other ID:
UI: 102212575
From Meeting Abstracts