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Mammarella N, Gatti M, Ceccato I, Di Crosta A, Di Domenico A, Palumbo R. The Protective Role of Neurogenetic Components in Reducing Stress-Related Effects during Spaceflights: Evidence from the Age-Related Positive Memory Approach. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12081176. [PMID: 36013355 PMCID: PMC9410359 DOI: 10.3390/life12081176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fighting stress-related effects during spaceflight is crucial for a successful mission. Emotional, motivational, and cognitive mechanisms have already been shown to be involved in the decrease of negative emotions. However, emerging evidence is pointing to a neurogenetic profile that may render some individuals more prone than others to focusing on positive information in memory and increasing affective health. The relevance for adaptation to the space environment and the interaction with other stressors such as ionizing radiations is discussed. In particular, to clarify this approach better, we will draw from the psychology and aging literature data. Subsequently, we report on studies on candidate genes for sensitivity to positive memories. We review work on the following candidate genes that may be crucial in adaptation mechanisms: ADRA2B, COMT, 5HTTLPR, CB1, and TOMM40. The final aim is to show how the study of genetics and cell biology of positive memory can help us to reveal the underlying bottom-up pathways to also increasing positive effects during a space mission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mammarella
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.G.); (A.D.C.); (A.D.D.); (R.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Matteo Gatti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.G.); (A.D.C.); (A.D.D.); (R.P.)
| | - Irene Ceccato
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Adolfo Di Crosta
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.G.); (A.D.C.); (A.D.D.); (R.P.)
| | - Alberto Di Domenico
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.G.); (A.D.C.); (A.D.D.); (R.P.)
| | - Rocco Palumbo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.G.); (A.D.C.); (A.D.D.); (R.P.)
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Popova NK, Kulikov AV, Naumenko VS. Spaceflight and brain plasticity: Spaceflight effects on regional expression of neurotransmitter systems and neurotrophic factors encoding genes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:396-405. [PMID: 33086127 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The critical problem of space exploration is the effect of long-term space travel on brain functioning. Current information concerning the effects of actual spaceflight on the brain was obtained on rats and mice flown on five missions of Soviet/Russian biosatellites, NASA Neurolab Mission STS90, and International Space Station (ISS). The review provides converging lines of evidence that: 1) long-term spaceflight affects both principle regulators of brain neuroplasticity - neurotransmitters (5-HT and DA) and neurotrophic factors (CDNF, GDNF but not BDNF); 2) 5-HT- (5-HT2A receptor and MAO A) and especially DA-related genes (TH, MAO A, COMT, D1 receptor, CDNF and GDNF) belong to the risk neurogenes; 3) brain response to spaceflight is region-specific. Substantia nigra, striatum and hypothalamus are highly sensitive to the long-term spaceflight: in these brain areas spaceflight decreased the expression of both DA-related and neurotrophic factors genes. Since DA system is involved in the regulation of movement and cognition the data discussed in the review could explain dysfunction of locomotion and behavior of astronauts and direct further investigations to the DA system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina K Popova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Alexander V Kulikov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Vladimir S Naumenko
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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Zhang X, Chu X, Chen L, Fu J, Wang S, Song J, Kan G, Jiang W, He G, Chen X, Li W. Simulated weightlessness procedure, head-down bed rest impairs adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rhesus macaque. Mol Brain 2019; 12:46. [PMID: 31072406 PMCID: PMC6509794 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The microgravity environment in space can impact astronauts' cognitive and behavioral activities. However, due to the limitations of research conditions, studies of biological changes in the primate brain, such as neurogenesis, have been comparatively few. We take advantage of - 6° head-down bed rest (HDBR), one of the most implemented space analogue on the ground, to investigate the effects of weightlessness on neurogenesis of non-human primate brain. Rhesus Macaque monkeys were subjected to HDBR for 42 days to simulate weightlessness. BrdU (5-bromodeoxyuridin) and IdU (iododeoxyuridine) were intraperitoneally injected separately before or after HDBR to label the survival and proliferation of newborn neurons. Immunohistochemistry was performed to study the effect of simulated weightlessness on neurogenesis. BrdU staining showed that survival of newborn neurons was reduced, while there were fewer BrdU-positive neurons in the HDBR group compared with the control. Furthermore, IdU-positive neurons also decreased in the HDBR group suggesting a reduced proliferation capacity for these newborn neurons. Our results demonstrate the definite neurogenesis in the adult rhesus macaque hippocampus, and simulated weightlessness HDBR procedure impairs the adult neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xixia Chu
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Juan Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Guanghan Kan
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Weizhong Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang He
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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Li K, Guo X, Jin Z, Ouyang X, Zeng Y, Feng J, Wang Y, Yao L, Ma L. Effect of Simulated Microgravity on Human Brain Gray Matter and White Matter--Evidence from MRI. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135835. [PMID: 26270525 PMCID: PMC4535759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited and inconclusive evidence that space environment, especially microgravity condition, may affect microstructure of human brain. This experiment hypothesized that there would be modifications in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the brain due to microgravity. METHOD Eighteen male volunteers were recruited and fourteen volunteers underwent -6° head-down bed rest (HDBR) for 30 days simulated microgravity. High-resolution brain anatomical imaging data and diffusion tensor imaging images were collected on a 3T MR system before and after HDBR. We applied voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics analysis to investigate the structural changes in GM and WM of brain. RESULTS We observed significant decreases of GM volume in the bilateral frontal lobes, temporal poles, parahippocampal gyrus, insula and right hippocampus, and increases of GM volume in the vermis, bilateral paracentral lobule, right precuneus gyrus, left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus after HDBR. Fractional anisotropy (FA) changes were also observed in multiple WM tracts. CONCLUSION These regions showing GM changes are closely associated with the functional domains of performance, locomotion, learning, memory and coordination. Regional WM alterations may be related to brain function decline and adaption. Our findings provide the neuroanatomical evidence of brain dysfunction or plasticity in microgravity condition and a deeper insight into the cerebral mechanisms in microgravity condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Magnetic Resonance Center, 306 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojuan Guo
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Jin
- Magnetic Resonance Center, 306 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Ouyang
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yawei Zeng
- Magnetic Resonance Center, 306 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jinsheng Feng
- The Third Laboratory, China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Outpatient Department of 61599 Unit of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yao
- College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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Grindeland RE, Ilyin EA, Holley DC, Skidmore MG. International collaboration on Russian spacecraft and the case for free flyer biosatellites. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 10:41-80. [PMID: 16101104 DOI: 10.1016/s1569-2574(05)10003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal research has been critical to the initiation and progress of space exploration. Animals were the original explorers of "space" two centuries ago and have played a crucial role by demonstrating that the space environment, with precautions, is compatible with human survival. Studies of mammals have yielded much of our knowledge of space physiology. As spaceflights to other planets are anticipated, animal research will continue to be essential to further reveal space physiology and to enable the longer missions. Much of the physiology data collected from space was obtained from the Cosmos (Bion) spaceflights, a series of Russian (Soviet)-International collaborative flights, over a 22 year period, which employed unmanned, free flyer biosatellites. Begun as a Soviet-only program, after the second flight the Russians invited American and other foreign scientists to participate. This program filled the 10 year hiatus between the last US biosatellite and the first animal experiments on the shuttles. Of the 11 flights in the Cosmos program nine of them were international; the flights continued over the years regardless of political differences between the Soviet Union and the Western world. The science evolved from sharing tissues to joint international planning and development, and from rat postmortem tissue analysis to in vivo measurements of a host of monkey physiological parameters during flight. Many types of biological specimens were carried on the modified Vostok spacecraft, but only the mammalian studies are discussed herein. The types of studies done encompass the full range of physiology and have begun to answer "critical" questions of space physiology posed by various ad hoc committees. The studies have not only yielded a prodigious and significant body of data, they have also introduced some new perspectives in physiology. A number of the physiological insights gained are relevant to physiology on Earth. The Cosmos flights also added significantly to flight-related technology, some of which also has application on our planet. In summary, the Cosmos biosatellite flights were extremely productive and of low cost. The Bion vehicles are versatile in that they can be placed into a variety of orbits and altitudes, and can carry radiation sources or other hazardous material which cannot be carried on manned vehicles. With recent advances in sensor, robotic, and data processing technology, future free flyers will be even more productive, and will largely preclude the need to fly animal experiments on manned vehicles. Currently, mammalian researchers do not have access to space for an unknown time, seriously impeding the advancement and understanding of space physiology during long duration missions. Initiation of a new, international program of free flyer biosatellites is critical to our further understanding of space physiology, and essential to continued human exploration of space.
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Some cytochemical peculiarities of the rat brain motor system after space flight. Bull Exp Biol Med 1995. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02445835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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