[Characteristics of the responses of the sympathoadrenal system in cosmonauts undergoing prolonged cosmic flight on the Saliut-7 orbital station].

Sympathico-adrenal activity of cosmonauts was studied before, during and after 211- and 237-day flights on the Salyut-7 station. During flight blood and urine samples were drawn, collected and stored using a Plasma-01 unit. Blood was withdrawn from two crewmembers on flight days 217-219 by the physician-cosmonaut and brought to the Earth in a frozen state. After the 211-day flight the sympathico-adrenal system showed stimulation of the hormonal component and inhibition of the transmitter component on the recovery day as well as activation of the transmitter component and metabolic changes during the subsequent recovery period. On days 217-219 of the 237-day flight blood catecholamines slightly increased while their renal excretion remained unchanged and their metabolite excretion decreased. All the parameters under study increased significantly during the recovery period. These observations give evidence that the sympathico-adrenal system was not activated on flight days 217-219 and was significantly stimulated during the recovery period after 211- and 237-day flights.