Structural and functional reserves of the autonomic nervous system in pilots of high-maneuver aircrafts

The purpose of the study was to analyze morbidity among pilots of different categories of aircraft and to investigate reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in pilots of high-maneuver aircrafts who varied in age and flying time. Morbidity of the flying personnel was analyzed based on the data of aviation medical exams. The ANS investigation involved 56 pilots of fighter and assault aircrafts both in inter-flight periods and during duty shifts. Cytochemistry was used to measure glycogen in peripheral blood neutrophils in 77 pilots. It was shown that the pre-stress state in pilots with a flying time of more than 1000 h may transform into chronic stress, provided that flight duties remain heavy. Cytochemical data studies of the concentration of neutrophilic glycogen revealed that the level of this substance was controlled by hormonal components of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS and indicated the energy potential of peripheral blood leukocytes.