Chronic Centrifugation of Labyrinthectomized, Growing Turtles

Authors

John O. Rice, University of Iowa
Charles C. Wunder, University of IowaFollow
Friedrich C. Diecke, University of Iowa
Mary M. Clark, University of Iowa
Randall K. Kesterson, University of Iowa
Jackquelyn G. White, University of Iowa
Kathy M. Whiteside, University of Iowa

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Turtles; gravity; centrifugation; ear; growth; labyrinthectomy

Abstract

A 1-G space-based centrifuge will be necessary before controlled, bio-medical weightlessness experiments can be performed. Some argue that centrifuges of prohibitive dimensions are necessary. Labyrinthectomized, hatchling, Red-Eared Turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans) which had grown to a length of 45 mm at 5 G's (200 rpm 10 cm radius) displayed the same greater shell height (21.7 ± 0.4 vs, 20.0 ± 0.3 mm at 1 G) that was observed at 5 G's with nonlabyrinthectomized, centrifuged turtles. If other effects of centrifugation can also be attributed to artificial gravity rather than rotation, a space-based centrifuge radius as short as 10 cm (1 G at 100 rpm) is suggested.

Publication Date

January 1972

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

78

Issue

3-4

First Page

65

Last Page

66

Copyright

©1972 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Rice, John O.; Wunder, Charles C.; Diecke, Friedrich C.; Clark, Mary M.; Kesterson, Randall K.; White, Jackquelyn G.; and Whiteside, Kathy M. (1972) "Chronic Centrifugation of Labyrinthectomized, Growing Turtles," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 78(3-4), 65-66.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol78/iss3/10