Regulation of hemodynamics in sympathectomized rats after adaptation to tail suspension.

The organism adapts to actual or simulated microgravity by complex interactions of nervous, hormonal and local control mechanisms. Sympathetic nervous system is believed to play the leading role in this adaptation (Robertson et al. 1994). However, this conclusion seems to be rather deductive, as it has not been proved directly. Chronic sympathectomy provides a straightforward approach to this problem. We have studied the role of sympathetic nervous system in adaptation of cardiovascular system to simulated microgravity by tail suspension in intact and sympathectomized rats.