A new method to force-feed and rear adult newts on board a space station

Abstract

We developed a force-feed method for the adults of the newt, Pleuradeles waltl (urodele amphibian) under microgravity conditions on board the Mir space station, because the animals cannot take food themselves under such conditions. A cosmonaut introduced a catheter through the mouth into the stomach. The catheter was connected to a syringe containing food and allowed him to dose the quantity of injected food. The selected food was a complete diet for dogs and cats called “Prescription diet Canine/Feline a/d" made in USA and produced by the Hill‘s Pet Nutrition SNC (Sofia-Antipolis, France). It was diluted, sterilized and conserved on board the Mir station at ambient temperature (20-30 C). The protocol of force-feeding was successfully performed on board the space station during five months. After the space mission, two females were in good health status. They laid fertilized eggs in flight and again in the ground laboratory after the landing. According to the results obtained with Pleurodeles females. such food could be used in future long space flights.