Functional activity of the liver under the conditions of immersion and effects of countermeasures

Abstract

Ultrasound investigations (USI) of the liver, organs and vessels of the gastroduodenal area, as well as blood biochemistry, were performed in two groups of male volunteers on the 4th day of their stay in the conditions of “dry” immersion with and without the application of countermeasures, including the support load imitator (SLI) or high-frequency electromyostimulation. Using ¹³С-methacetin breath test (¹³C-MBT), two other groups were investigated for the effect of immersion on the detoxification activity and metabolic capacity of the liver and the efficacy of SLI. The performed USIs have identified deceleration in the hepatic venous flow and the signs of plethora in the abdominal venous system. Elevated blood levels were detected in pepsinogen, pancreatic amylase, bilirubin total, due to its unconjugated fraction, insulin, and C-peptide. The ¹³C-MBT has shown a slowdown in the rate of ¹³C-methacetin inactivation and a reduction in the hepatic metabolic capacity. The application of countermeasures during the immersion has not affected the ultrasound patterns of the hemodynamic rearrangement in both the liver and the abdomen. High frequency electromyostimulation during the immersion has neutralized the changes in all biochemical indicators except C-peptide, while the application of SLI has led to the restoration of only pepsinogen and amylase to the initial values. In addition, the use of SLI during the immersion counteracted the reduction in the ¹³C-methacetin inactivation rate and did not substantially affect the reduction in the metabolic capacity of the liver.