[The effect of weightlessness on amphibians. The skeleton and mineral metabolism].

The visceral and somatic skeleton of Pleurodeles waltilii was investigated after a series of two-week space flights on the biosatellites. It was shown that under conditions of weightlessness osteoporosis of the skeleton and its demineralisation were stimulated. In weightlessness, calcium, phosphorus and sulfur were lost and potassium accumulated. Trabeculae of endochondral part of the extremity bones were destroyed by osteoclasts. Proliferation of osteoclasts was disrupted, appositional growth stopped, and the cartilage of hyoid system was resorbed. Skeleton readaptation during two months did not result in the complete regeneration of morphological structure of the bones.