1
|
Kidane YH, Lee FH, Smith MF, Wang C, Mirza JB, Sharma S, Lobo AA, Dewan KC, Chen J, Diaz TE, Pla MM, Foster MW, Bowles DE. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic characterization of cardiovascular tissues after long term exposure to simulated space radiation. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1248276. [PMID: 38699144 PMCID: PMC11063234 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1248276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: It may take decades to develop cardiovascular dysfunction following exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation from medical therapy or from nuclear accidents. Since astronauts may be exposed continually to a complex space radiation environment unlike that experienced on Earth, it is unresolved whether there is a risk to cardiovascular health during long-term space exploration missions. Previously, we have described that mice exposed to a single dose of simplified Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR5-ion) develop cardiovascular dysfunction by 12 months post-radiation. Methods: To investigate the biological basis of this dysfunction, here we performed a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis of heart tissue (proteome and phosphoproteome) and plasma (proteome only) from these mice at 8 months post-radiation. Results: Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) for irradiated versus sham irradiated samples (fold-change ≥1.2 and an adjusted p-value of ≤0.05) were identified for each proteomics data set. For the heart proteome, there were 87 significant DEPs (11 upregulated and 76 downregulated); for the heart phosphoproteome, there were 60 significant differentially phosphorylated peptides (17 upregulated and 43 downregulated); and for the plasma proteome, there was only one upregulated protein. A Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) technique that assesses canonical pathways from BIOCARTA, KEGG, PID, REACTOME, and WikiPathways revealed significant perturbation in pathways in each data set. For the heart proteome, 166 pathways were significantly altered (36 upregulated and 130 downregulated); for the plasma proteome, there were 73 pathways significantly altered (25 upregulated and 48 downregulated); and for the phosphoproteome, there were 223 pathways significantly affected at 0.1 adjusted p-value cutoff. Pathways related to inflammation were the most highly perturbed in the heart and plasma. In line with sustained inflammation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were demonstrated to be increased in GCR5-ion irradiated hearts at 12-month post irradiation. NETs play a fundamental role in combating bacterial pathogens, modulating inflammatory responses, inflicting damage on healthy tissues, and escalating vascular thrombosis. Discussion: These findings suggest that a single exposure to GCR5-ion results in long-lasting changes in the proteome and that these proteomic changes can potentiate acute and chronic health issues for astronauts, such as what we have previously described with late cardiac dysfunction in these mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yared H. Kidane
- Center for Pediatric Bone Biology and Translational Research, Scottish Rite for Children, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Franklin H. Lee
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Matthew F. Smith
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chunbo Wang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jacqueline Barbera Mirza
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
| | - Saachi Sharma
- Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Alejandro A. Lobo
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Krish C. Dewan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jengwei Chen
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Thomas E. Diaz
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Matthew W. Foster
- Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Dawn E. Bowles
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Giacinto O, Lusini M, Sammartini E, Minati A, Mastroianni C, Nenna A, Pascarella G, Sammartini D, Carassiti M, Miraldi F, Chello M, Pelliccia F. Cardiovascular Effects of Cosmic Radiation and Microgravity. J Clin Med 2024; 13:520. [PMID: 38256654 PMCID: PMC10816185 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent spaceflights involving nonprofessional people have opened the doors to the suborbital space tourism business. However, they have also drawn public attention to the safety and hazards associated with space travel. Unfortunately, space travel involves a myriad of health risks for people, ranging from DNA damage caused by radiation exposure to the hemodynamic changes that occur when living in microgravity. In fact, the primary pathogenetic role is attributed to cosmic radiation, since deep space lacks the protective benefit of Earth's magnetic shielding. The second risk factor for space-induced pathologies is microgravity, which may affect organ function and cause a different distribution of fluid inside the human body. Both cosmic radiation and microgravity may lead to the alteration of cellular homeostasis and molecular changes in cell function. These, in turn, might have a direct impact on heart function and structure. The aim of this review is to draw attention to the fact that spaceflights constitute a novel frontier in biomedical research. We summarize the most important clinical and experimental evidence regarding the cardiovascular effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity. Finally, we highlight that unraveling the mechanisms underlying how space radiation and microgravity affect the cardiovascular system is crucial for identifying potential countermeasures and developing effective therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omar Giacinto
- Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Lusini
- Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Minati
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Ciro Mastroianni
- Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Nenna
- Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pascarella
- Research Unit of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Sammartini
- Research Unit of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Carassiti
- Research Unit of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Miraldi
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Chello
- Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pelliccia
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ludtka C, Allen JB. The Effects of Simulated and Real Microgravity on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. GRAVITATIONAL AND SPACE RESEARCH : PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR GRAVITATIONAL AND SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 12:46-59. [PMID: 38846256 PMCID: PMC11156189 DOI: 10.2478/gsr-2024-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
As considerations are being made for the limitations and safety of long-term human spaceflight, the vasculature is important given its connection to and impact on numerous organ systems. As a major constituent of blood vessels, vascular smooth muscle cells are of interest due to their influence over vascular tone and function. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells are responsive to pressure and flow changes. Therefore, alterations in these parameters under conditions of microgravity can be functionally disruptive. As such, here we review and discuss the existing literature that assesses the effects of microgravity, both actual and simulated, on smooth muscle cells. This includes the various methods for achieving or simulating microgravity, the animal models or cells used, and the various durations of microgravity assessed. We also discuss the various reported findings in the field, which include changes to cell proliferation, gene expression and phenotypic shifts, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and Ca2+ signaling. Additionally, we briefly summarize the literature on smooth muscle tissue engineering in microgravity as well as considerations of radiation as another key component of spaceflight to contextualize spaceflight experiments, which by their nature include radiation exposure. Finally, we provide general recommendations based on the existing literature's focus and limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ludtka
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Josephine B. Allen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hinshaw RG, Schroeder MK, Ciola J, Varma C, Colletti B, Liu B, Liu GG, Shi Q, Williams JP, O’Banion MK, Caldarone BJ, Lemere CA. High-Energy, Whole-Body Proton Irradiation Differentially Alters Long-Term Brain Pathology and Behavior Dependent on Sex and Alzheimer's Disease Mutations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043615. [PMID: 36835027 PMCID: PMC9965515 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-body exposure to high-energy particle radiation remains an unmitigated hazard to human health in space. Ongoing experiments at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory and elsewhere repeatedly show persistent changes in brain function long after exposure to simulations of this unique radiation environment, although, as is also the case with proton radiotherapy sequelae, how this occurs and especially how it interacts with common comorbidities is not well-understood. Here, we report modest differential changes in behavior and brain pathology between male and female Alzheimer's-like and wildtype littermate mice 7-8 months after exposure to 0, 0.5, or 2 Gy of 1 GeV proton radiation. The mice were examined with a battery of behavior tests and assayed for amyloid beta pathology, synaptic markers, microbleeds, microglial reactivity, and plasma cytokines. In general, the Alzheimer's model mice were more prone than their wildtype littermates to radiation-induced behavior changes, and hippocampal staining for amyloid beta pathology and microglial activation in these mice revealed a dose-dependent reduction in males but not in females. In summary, radiation-induced, long-term changes in behavior and pathology, although modest, appear specific to both sex and the underlying disease state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert G. Hinshaw
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02129, USA
| | - Maren K. Schroeder
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jason Ciola
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Curran Varma
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Brianna Colletti
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Grace Geyu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiaoqiao Shi
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jacqueline P. Williams
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - M. Kerry O’Banion
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | | | - Cynthia A. Lemere
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chaloulakou S, Poulia KA, Karayiannis D. Physiological Alterations in Relation to Space Flight: The Role of Nutrition. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224896. [PMID: 36432580 PMCID: PMC9699067 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Astronauts exhibit several pathophysiological changes due to a variety of stressors related to the space environment, including microgravity, space radiation, isolation, and confinement. Space motion sickness, bone and muscle mass loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and neuro-ocular syndrome are some of the spaceflight-induced effects on human health. Optimal nutrition is of the utmost importance, and-in combination with other measures, such as physical activity and pharmacological treatment-has a key role in mitigating many of the above conditions, including bone and muscle mass loss. Since the beginning of human space exploration, space food has not fully covered astronauts' needs. They often suffer from menu fatigue and present unintentional weight loss, which leads to further alterations. The purpose of this review was to explore the role of nutrition in relation to the pathophysiological effects of spaceflight on the human body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Chaloulakou
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, “Evangelismos” General Hospital of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Anna Poulia
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Quality of Life, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Karayiannis
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, “Evangelismos” General Hospital of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-213-2045035
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ong J, Zaman N, Waisberg E, Kamran SA, Lee AG, Tavakkoli A. Head-mounted digital metamorphopsia suppression as a countermeasure for macular-related visual distortions for prolonged spaceflight missions and terrestrial health. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES 2022; 3:e26. [PMID: 38486901 PMCID: PMC10936292 DOI: 10.1017/wtc.2022.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
During long-duration spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to various risks including spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, which serves as a risk to astronaut vision and a potential physiological barrier to future spaceflight. When considering exploration missions that may expose astronauts to longer periods of microgravity, radiation exposure, and natural aging processes during spaceflight, more severe changes to functional vision may occur. The macula plays a critical role in central vision and disruptions to this key area in the eye may compromise functional vision and mission performance. In this article, we describe the development of a countermeasure technique to digitally suppress monocular central visual distortion with head-mounted display technology. We report early validation studies with this noninvasive countermeasure in individuals with simulated metamorphopsia. When worn by these individuals, this emerging wearable countermeasure technology has demonstrated a suppression of monocular visual distortion. We describe the considerations and further directions of this head-mounted technology for both astronauts and aging individuals on Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Ong
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nasif Zaman
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Ethan Waisberg
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sharif Amit Kamran
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Andrew G. Lee
- Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Alireza Tavakkoli
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Monitoring the Impact of Spaceflight on the Human Brain. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12071060. [PMID: 35888147 PMCID: PMC9323314 DOI: 10.3390/life12071060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Extended exposure to radiation, microgravity, and isolation during space exploration has significant physiological, structural, and psychosocial effects on astronauts, and particularly their central nervous system. To date, the use of brain monitoring techniques adopted on Earth in pre/post-spaceflight experimental protocols has proven to be valuable for investigating the effects of space travel on the brain. However, future (longer) deep space travel would require some brain function monitoring equipment to be also available for evaluating and monitoring brain health during spaceflight. Here, we describe the impact of spaceflight on the brain, the basic principles behind six brain function analysis technologies, their current use associated with spaceflight, and their potential for utilization during deep space exploration. We suggest that, while the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computerized tomography (CT) is limited to analog and pre/post-spaceflight studies on Earth, electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and ultrasound are good candidates to be adapted for utilization in the context of deep space exploration.
Collapse
|
8
|
Jordan J, Limper U, Tank J. Cardiovascular autonomic nervous system responses and orthostatic intolerance in astronauts and their relevance in daily medicine. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:3039-3051. [PMID: 35194757 PMCID: PMC9018660 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-05963-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background The harsh environmental conditions during space travel, particularly weightlessness, impose a major burden on the human body including the cardiovascular system. Given its importance in adjusting the cardiovascular system to environmental challenges, the autonomic nervous system has been in the focus of scientists and clinicians involved in human space flight. This review provides an overview on human autonomic research under real and simulated space conditions with a focus on orthostatic intolerance. Methods The authors conducted a targeted literature search using Pubmed. Results Overall, 120 articles were identified and included in the review. Conclusions Postflight orthostatic intolerance is commonly observed in astronauts and could pose major risks when landing on another celestial body. The phenomenon likely results from changes in volume status and adaptation of the autonomic nervous system to weightlessness. Over the years, various non-pharmacological and pharmacological countermeasures have been investigated. In addition to enabling safe human space flight, this research may have implications for patients with disorders affecting cardiovascular autonomic control on Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany. .,Aerospace Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Limper
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Merheim Medical Center, Hospitals of Cologne, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens Tank
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bishawi M, Lee FH, Abraham DM, Glass C, Blocker SJ, Cox DJ, Brown ZD, Rockman HA, Mao L, Slaba TC, Dewhirst MW, Truskey GA, Bowles DE. Late onset cardiovascular dysfunction in adult mice resulting from galactic cosmic ray exposure. iScience 2022; 25:104086. [PMID: 35378858 PMCID: PMC8976132 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex and inaccessible space radiation environment poses an unresolved risk to astronaut cardiovascular health during long-term space exploration missions. To model this risk, healthy male c57BL/6 mice aged six months (corresponding to an astronaut of 34 years) were exposed to simplified galactic cosmic ray (GCR5-ion; 5-ion sim) irradiation at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratories (BNL). Multi-modal cardiovascular functional assessments performed longitudinally and terminally revealed significant impairment in cardiac function in mice exposed to GCR5-ion compared to unirradiated controls, gamma irradiation, or single mono-energetic ions (56Fe or 16O). GCR5-ion-treated mice exhibited increased arterial elastance likely mediated by disruption of elastin fibers. This study suggests that a single exposure to GCR5-ion is associated with deterioration in cardiac structure and function that becomes apparent long after exposure, likely associated with increased morbidity and mortality. These findings represent important health considerations when preparing for successful space exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muath Bishawi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, MRSB1 Rm. 421b, 203 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Franklin H. Lee
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, MRSB1 Rm. 421b, 203 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Dennis M. Abraham
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Carolyn Glass
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | - Daniel J. Cox
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, MRSB1 Rm. 421b, 203 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Zachary D. Brown
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, MRSB1 Rm. 421b, 203 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Howard A. Rockman
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Lan Mao
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Tony C. Slaba
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
| | - Mark W. Dewhirst
- Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - George A. Truskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Dawn E. Bowles
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, MRSB1 Rm. 421b, 203 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Soler I, Yun S, Reynolds RP, Whoolery CW, Tran FH, Kumar PL, Rong Y, DeSalle MJ, Gibson AD, Stowe AM, Kiffer FC, Eisch AJ. Multi-Domain Touchscreen-Based Cognitive Assessment of C57BL/6J Female Mice Shows Whole-Body Exposure to 56Fe Particle Space Radiation in Maturity Improves Discrimination Learning Yet Impairs Stimulus-Response Rule-Based Habit Learning. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:722780. [PMID: 34707486 PMCID: PMC8543003 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.722780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Astronauts during interplanetary missions will be exposed to galactic cosmic radiation, including charged particles like 56Fe. Most preclinical studies with mature, "astronaut-aged" rodents suggest space radiation diminishes performance in classical hippocampal- and prefrontal cortex-dependent tasks. However, a rodent cognitive touchscreen battery unexpectedly revealed 56Fe radiation improves the performance of C57BL/6J male mice in a hippocampal-dependent task (discrimination learning) without changing performance in a striatal-dependent task (rule-based learning). As there are conflicting results on whether the female rodent brain is preferentially injured by or resistant to charged particle exposure, and as the proportion of female vs. male astronauts is increasing, further study on how charged particles influence the touchscreen cognitive performance of female mice is warranted. We hypothesized that, similar to mature male mice, mature female C57BL/6J mice exposed to fractionated whole-body 56Fe irradiation (3 × 6.7cGy 56Fe over 5 days, 600 MeV/n) would improve performance vs. Sham conditions in touchscreen tasks relevant to hippocampal and prefrontal cortical function [e.g., location discrimination reversal (LDR) and extinction, respectively]. In LDR, 56Fe female mice more accurately discriminated two discrete conditioned stimuli relative to Sham mice, suggesting improved hippocampal function. However, 56Fe and Sham female mice acquired a new simple stimulus-response behavior and extinguished this acquired behavior at similar rates, suggesting similar prefrontal cortical function. Based on prior work on multiple memory systems, we next tested whether improved hippocampal-dependent function (discrimination learning) came at the expense of striatal stimulus-response rule-based habit learning (visuomotor conditional learning). Interestingly, 56Fe female mice took more days to reach criteria in this striatal-dependent rule-based test relative to Sham mice. Together, our data support the idea of competition between memory systems, as an 56Fe-induced decrease in striatal-based learning is associated with enhanced hippocampal-based learning. These data emphasize the power of using a touchscreen-based battery to advance our understanding of the effects of space radiation on mission critical cognitive function in females, and underscore the importance of preclinical space radiation risk studies measuring multiple cognitive processes, thereby preventing NASA's risk assessments from being based on a single cognitive domain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Soler
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanghee Yun
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan P. Reynolds
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cody W. Whoolery
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Fionya H. Tran
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Priya L. Kumar
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuying Rong
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Matthew J. DeSalle
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Adam D. Gibson
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ann M. Stowe
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Therapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Frederico C. Kiffer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Amelia J. Eisch
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|