Final Report

Abstract

The specific aims of the research were two fold: 1) to test the working hypothesis that space flight can alter normal development of vestibular sense organs and 2) to characterize adaptation of vestibular receptors to weightlessness and readaptation upon the return to earth. The proposed research has two scientific objectives: 1) In hatchlings (and perhaps embryos): to critically test the hypothesis that space flight can modify the ontogeny of vestibular gravity receptors, and 2) In adult birds: to characterize adaptation of vestibular gravity receptors to weightlessness and further to characterize re-adaptation of vestibular gravity receptors upon their return to earth.