[Electrophysiological characteristics of the statocyst receptor cells in snails Helix lucorum following exposure to microgravity in unmanned spacecraft "Foton" and piloted space station "Mir"].

Following 16-, 53-, 73- and 163-d orbiting, the background pulsation of the statocyst receptor cells (statoreceptors), the equilibrium organ in land pulmonary snails Helix lucorum, was found increased. Alteration of the body spatial position (2-min tilt at 90 degrees toward the upsilateral side) in the space-flown snails was noted to occur with delayed dying away of the pulsation rate. During stepwise (30 degrees) tilts in the range from 0 to 180 degrees, the maximum of the reaction was shifted by 30 degrees from the gravitational vertical; during dynamic tilting (sine decaying oscillations) the reaction subsides more rapidly as compared with the control animals. Absence of changes in pulsation of receptor cells in statocysts deprived of feedback with the nervous centers may be suggestive of inactivation of the efferent innervation in consequence of exposure to microgravity.