2
|
Zhao L, Bao C, Wang W, Mi D. New evidence and insight for abnormalities in early embryonic development after short-term spaceflight onboard the Chinese SJ-10 satellite. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2020; 27:107-110. [PMID: 34756224 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
During space travel, radiation and microgravity are recognized to be major hazardous factors in the overall health and well-being of astronauts. Although some efforts have been made to elucidate the effects of short-term space travel on the reproductive health of astronauts and multiple other species in a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies, it is still unclear whether space travel can cause abnormal embryonic development or if it poses any reproductive risks. Recently, Lei et al. (2020) investigated the effects of short-term spaceflight onboard the Chinese SJ-10 satellite on murine preimplantation embryonic development. In the article, the authors claimed that the developmental abnormalities after short-term spaceflight onboard the SJ-10 satellite were attributed to space radiation and that these alterations in space was equivalent to those induced by a 2 mGy dose of gamma-rays in a ground-based facility. In this commentary, we discuss the possible space environmental factors and associated mechanisms that contribute to abnormalities in early embryonic development, and the potential health risks to mammals after short-term space travel. This commentary provides new evidence and a fresh perspective on whether and how short-term space travel poses potential reproductive risks in mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhao
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, China.
| | - Chengyu Bao
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, Liaoning, China
| | - Dong Mi
- College of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lei X, Cao Y, Ma B, Zhang Y, Ning L, Qian J, Zhang L, Qu Y, Zhang T, Li D, Chen Q, Shi J, Zhang X, Ma C, Zhang Y, Duan E. Development of mouse preimplantation embryos in space. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 7:1437-1446. [PMID: 34691539 PMCID: PMC8288510 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of life beyond planet Earth is a long-standing quest of the human race, but whether normal mammalian embryonic development can occur in space is still unclear. Here, we show unequivocally that preimplantation mouse embryos can develop in space, but the rate of blastocyst formation and blastocyst quality are compromised. Additionally, the cells in the embryo contain severe DNA damage, while the genome of the blastocysts developed in space is globally hypomethylated with a unique set of differentially methylated regions. The developmental defects, DNA damage and epigenetic abnormalities can be largely mimicked by the treatment with ground-based low-dose radiation. However, the exposure to simulated microgravity alone does not cause major disruptions of embryonic development, indicating that radiation is the main cause for the developmental defects. This work advances the understanding of embryonic development in space and reveals long-term extreme low-dose radiation as a hazardous factor for mammalian reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yujing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Baohua Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University/Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yunfang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lina Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jingjing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Liwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yongcun Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 100049, China
| | - Dehong Li
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Qi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Junchao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chiyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Enkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|