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Alterations in the activity and sleep of Drosophila melanogaster under simulated microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2021; 7:27. [PMID: 34294729 PMCID: PMC8298474 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-021-00157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate alterations in the activity and sleep of Drosophila melanogaster under simulated microgravity, which was implemented through the random positioning machine, while different light conditions (normal photoperiod and constant dark) were set. Fruit flies of different strains and sexes were treated for 3 days, and activity and sleep were monitored using the Drosophila Activity Monitoring System. After 3 days of treatment, fruit flies were sampled to detect the relative expression levels of the major clock genes and some neurotransmitter-related genes. The results showed that for the normal photoperiod (LD) condition, the activity increased and sleep decreased under simulated microgravity, while for the constant dark (DD) condition, the activity and sleep rhythms appeared disordered and the activity increased, thus decreasing the likelihood of waking up during the day. Light conditions, strains, and sexes, individually or in combination, had impacts on the simulated microgravity effects on behaviors. The clock genes and neurotransmitter-related genes had different degrees of response among sexes and strains, although the overall changes were slight. The results indicated that the normal photoperiod could ease the effects of simulated microgravity on fruit flies' activity and sleep and possible unidentified pathways involved in the regulatory mechanism need further exploration. This study is expected to provide ideas and references for studying the effects of microgravity on space life science.
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Clément GR, Boyle RD, George KA, Nelson GA, Reschke MF, Williams TJ, Paloski WH. Challenges to the central nervous system during human spaceflight missions to Mars. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:2037-2063. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00476.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel presents a number of environmental challenges to the central nervous system, including changes in gravitational acceleration that alter the terrestrial synergies between perception and action, galactic cosmic radiation that can damage sensitive neurons and structures, and multiple factors (isolation, confinement, altered atmosphere, and mission parameters, including distance from Earth) that can affect cognition and behavior. Travelers to Mars will be exposed to these environmental challenges for up to 3 years, and space-faring nations continue to direct vigorous research investments to help elucidate and mitigate the consequences of these long-duration exposures. This article reviews the findings of more than 50 years of space-related neuroscience research on humans and animals exposed to spaceflight or analogs of spaceflight environments, and projects the implications and the forward work necessary to ensure successful Mars missions. It also reviews fundamental neurophysiology responses that will help us understand and maintain human health and performance on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard D. Boyle
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | | | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Millard F. Reschke
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas J. Williams
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - William H. Paloski
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
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Aceto J, Nourizadeh-Lillabadi R, Marée R, Dardenne N, Jeanray N, Wehenkel L, Aleström P, van Loon JJWA, Muller M. Zebrafish Bone and General Physiology Are Differently Affected by Hormones or Changes in Gravity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126928. [PMID: 26061167 PMCID: PMC4465622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Teleost fish such as zebrafish (Danio rerio) are increasingly used for physiological, genetic and developmental studies. Our understanding of the physiological consequences of altered gravity in an entire organism is still incomplete. We used altered gravity and drug treatment experiments to evaluate their effects specifically on bone formation and more generally on whole genome gene expression. By combining morphometric tools with an objective scoring system for the state of development for each element in the head skeleton and specific gene expression analysis, we confirmed and characterized in detail the decrease or increase of bone formation caused by a 5 day treatment (from 5dpf to 10 dpf) of, respectively parathyroid hormone (PTH) or vitamin D3 (VitD3). Microarray transcriptome analysis after 24 hours treatment reveals a general effect on physiology upon VitD3 treatment, while PTH causes more specifically developmental effects. Hypergravity (3g from 5dpf to 9 dpf) exposure results in a significantly larger head and a significant increase in bone formation for a subset of the cranial bones. Gene expression analysis after 24 hrs at 3g revealed differential expression of genes involved in the development and function of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Finally, we propose a novel type of experimental approach, the "Reduced Gravity Paradigm", by keeping the developing larvae at 3g hypergravity for the first 5 days before returning them to 1g for one additional day. 5 days exposure to 3g during these early stages also caused increased bone formation, while gene expression analysis revealed a central network of regulatory genes (hes5, sox10, lgals3bp, egr1, edn1, fos, fosb, klf2, gadd45ba and socs3a) whose expression was consistently affected by the transition from hyper- to normal gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Aceto
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, GIGA- Research, University of Liège, B-4000, Liège, Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | | | - Raphael Marée
- GIGA & Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nadia Dardenne
- Unité de soutien méth. en Biostatistique et Epidémiologie, University of Liège, B23, Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Jeanray
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, GIGA- Research, University of Liège, B-4000, Liège, Sart-Tilman, Belgium
| | - Louis Wehenkel
- GIGA & Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Peter Aleström
- BasAM, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Vetbio, 0033 Dep, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jack J. W. A. van Loon
- DESC (Dutch Experiment Support Center), Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Oral Pathology, VU University Medical Center & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- ESA-ESTEC, TEC-MMG, NL-2200 AG, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Muller
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, GIGA- Research, University of Liège, B-4000, Liège, Sart-Tilman, Belgium
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Horn ER, Gabriel M. Gravity-related critical periods in vestibular and tail development of Xenopus laevis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 315:505-11. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2011] [Revised: 06/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Sajdel-Sulkowska EM. Brain development, environment and sex: what can we learn from studying graviperception, gravitransduction and the gravireaction of the developing CNS to altered gravity? THE CEREBELLUM 2009; 7:223-39. [PMID: 18418693 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-008-0001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
As man embarks on space exploration and contemplates space habitation, there is a critical need for basic understanding of the impact of the environmental factors of space, and in particular gravity, on human survival, health, reproduction and development. This review summarizes our present knowledge on the effect of altered gravity on the developing CNS with respect to the response of the developing CNS to altered gravity (gravireaction), the physiological changes associated with altered gravity that could contribute to this effect (gravitransduction), and the possible mechanisms involved in the detection of altered gravity (graviperception). Some of these findings transcend gravitational research and are relevant to our understanding of the impact of environmental factors on CNS development on Earth.
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Billings L, Cameron V, Claire M, Dick GJ, Domagal-Goldman SD, Javaux EJ, Johnson OJ, Laws C, Race MS, Rask J, Rummel JD, Schelble RT, Vance S. The astrobiology primer: an outline of general knowledge--version 1, 2006. ASTROBIOLOGY 2006; 6:735-813. [PMID: 17067259 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2006.6.735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The Astrobiology Primer has been created as a reference tool for those who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology. The field incorporates many diverse research endeavors, but it is our hope that this slim volume will present the reader with all he or she needs to know to become involved and to understand, at least at a fundamental level, the state of the art. Each section includes a brief overview of a topic and a short list of readable and important literature for those interested in deeper knowledge. Because of the great diversity of material, each section was written by a different author with a different expertise. Contributors, authors, and editors are listed at the beginning, along with a list of those chapters and sections for which they were responsible. We are deeply indebted to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI), in particular to Estelle Dodson, David Morrison, Ed Goolish, Krisstina Wilmoth, and Rose Grymes for their continued enthusiasm and support. The Primer came about in large part because of NAI support for graduate student research, collaboration, and inclusion as well as direct funding. We have entitled the Primer version 1 in hope that it will be only the first in a series, whose future volumes will be produced every 3-5 years. This way we can insure that the Primer keeps up with the current state of research. We hope that it will be a great resource for anyone trying to stay abreast of an ever-changing field.
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Horn ER. Gravity Effects on Life Processes in Aquatic Animals. EXPERIMENTATION WITH ANIMAL MODELS IN SPACE 2005; 10:247-301. [PMID: 16101111 DOI: 10.1016/s1569-2574(05)10010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Anken RH. Neurophysiology of developing fish at altered gravity: background--facts--perspectives. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003; 9:173-200. [PMID: 14631633 DOI: 10.1016/s1569-2574(03)09007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
During the entire evolution of life on Earth, the phylogenetic as well as the individual development of all organisms took place under constant gravity conditions, against which they achieved specific countermeasures for compensation and adaptation. On the one side, gravity represents a factor of physical restriction, which compelled the ancestors of all extant living beings to develop basic achievements to counter the gravitational force (e.g., elements of statics like any kind of skeleton--from actin to bone--to overcome gravity enforced size limits or to keep form). On the other side, already early forms of life possibly used gravity as an appropriate cue for orientation and postural control, since it is continuously present and has a fixed direction. Due to such a thorough adaptation to the Earthly gravity vector, both orientation behaviour as well as the ontogenetic development of animals is impaired, when they have to experience altered gravity (delta g; i.e., hyper- or microgravity). On this background, it is still an open question to which extent delta g affects the normal individual development, either on the systemic level of the whole organism or on the level of individual organs or even single cells. The present review provides information on these questions, focusing on developing fish as model systems. Special emphasis is being laid on the effect of delta g on the developing brain and vestibular system, comprising investigations on behaviour and plastic reactivities of the brain and inner ear. Moreover, clues and insights into the possible basic causes of space motion sickness-phenomena (SMS; a kinetosis) are provided. Overall, the results speak in favour of the following concept: short-term altered gravity (< or = 1 day) can induce transitional aberrant behaviour due to malfunctions of the inner ear, originating from asymmetric otoliths or, generally, from a mismatch between canal and otolith afferents. The vanishing aberrant behaviour is due to a reweighing of sensory inputs and neurovestibular compensation, probably on bioelectrical basis. During long-term altered gravity (several days and more), step by step neuroplastic reactivities on molecular basis (i.e., molecular facilitation) in the brain and inner ears obviously activate feedback mechanisms between the CNS and the vestibular organs for the regain of normal behaviour. Mainly, the following areas of research with animals at altered gravity need to be addressed in the future: (1) Maintenance of animals through two complete life cycles in the space environment (developmental deficiencies?). (2) Investigation of the peripheral and central vestibular system by ground-based studies (mutants, hypergravity experiments...), focusing on plasticity in developing animals as well as in adults. (3) Investigation of the effect of microgravity during critical developmental periods (imprinting phase for graviperception?). Answers to these questions may be of crucial interest for basic gravitational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf H Anken
- Zoological Institute, University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 30, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
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