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Mason CE, Green J, Adamopoulos KI, Afshin EE, Baechle JJ, Basner M, Bailey SM, Bielski L, Borg J, Borg J, Broddrick JT, Burke M, Caicedo A, Castañeda V, Chatterjee S, Chin CR, Church G, Costes SV, De Vlaminck I, Desai RI, Dhir R, Diaz JE, Etlin SM, Feinstein Z, Furman D, Garcia-Medina JS, Garrett-Bakelman F, Giacomello S, Gupta A, Hassanin A, Houerbi N, Irby I, Javorsky E, Jirak P, Jones CW, Kamal KY, Kangas BD, Karouia F, Kim J, Kim JH, Kleinman AS, Lam T, Lawler JM, Lee JA, Limoli CL, Lucaci A, MacKay M, McDonald JT, Melnick AM, Meydan C, Mieczkowski J, Muratani M, Najjar D, Othman MA, Overbey EG, Paar V, Park J, Paul AM, Perdyan A, Proszynski J, Reynolds RJ, Ronca AE, Rubins K, Ryon KA, Sanders LM, Glowe PS, Shevde Y, Schmidt MA, Scott RT, Shirah B, Sienkiewicz K, Sierra MA, Siew K, Theriot CA, Tierney BT, Venkateswaran K, Hirschberg JW, Walsh SB, Walter C, Winer DA, Yu M, Zea L, Mateus J, Beheshti A. A second space age spanning omics, platforms and medicine across orbits. Nature 2024; 632:995-1008. [PMID: 38862027 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07586-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The recent acceleration of commercial, private and multi-national spaceflight has created an unprecedented level of activity in low Earth orbit, concomitant with the largest-ever number of crewed missions entering space and preparations for exploration-class (lasting longer than one year) missions. Such rapid advancement into space from many new companies, countries and space-related entities has enabled a 'second space age'. This era is also poised to leverage, for the first time, modern tools and methods of molecular biology and precision medicine, thus enabling precision aerospace medicine for the crews. The applications of these biomedical technologies and algorithms are diverse, and encompass multi-omic, single-cell and spatial biology tools to investigate human and microbial responses to spaceflight. Additionally, they extend to the development of new imaging techniques, real-time cognitive assessments, physiological monitoring and personalized risk profiles tailored for astronauts. Furthermore, these technologies enable advancements in pharmacogenomics, as well as the identification of novel spaceflight biomarkers and the development of corresponding countermeasures. In this Perspective, we highlight some of the recent biomedical research from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, European Space Agency and other space agencies, and detail the entrance of the commercial spaceflight sector (including SpaceX, Blue Origin, Axiom and Sierra Space) into aerospace medicine and space biology, the first aerospace medicine biobank, and various upcoming missions that will utilize these tools to ensure a permanent human presence beyond low Earth orbit, venturing out to other planets and moons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Konstantinos I Adamopoulos
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evan E Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jordan J Baechle
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Mathias Basner
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Susan M Bailey
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Luca Bielski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josef Borg
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Joseph Borg
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Jared T Broddrick
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Marissa Burke
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
| | - Andrés Caicedo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biomedicina iBioMed, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
- Escuela de Medicina, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud COCSA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
- Sistemas Médicos SIME, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
- Mito-Act Research Consortium, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Verónica Castañeda
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Lab, Program in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CIIB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Christopher R Chin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Sylvain V Costes
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rajeev I Desai
- Integrative Neurochemistry Laboratory, Behavioral Biology Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Raja Dhir
- Seed Health, Venice, CA, USA
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Juan Esteban Diaz
- Data Science Institute, School of Business, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sofia M Etlin
- Department of Astrobiology, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zachary Feinstein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Furman
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute for Research in Translational Medicine, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, Argentina
| | - J Sebastian Garcia-Medina
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francine Garrett-Bakelman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefania Giacomello
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Amira Hassanin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Nadia Houerbi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iris Irby
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emilia Javorsky
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Future of Life Institute, Campbell, CA, USA
| | - Peter Jirak
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Gmünd, Lower Austria, Austria
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Khaled Y Kamal
- Redox Biology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, USA
| | - Brian D Kangas
- Behavioral Biology Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Fathi Karouia
- Blue Marble Institute of Science, Exobiology Branch NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Space Research Within Reach, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- BioServe Space Technologies, Smead Aerospace Engineering Science Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joo Hyun Kim
- Redox Biology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ashley S Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Try Lam
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - John M Lawler
- Redox Biology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jessica A Lee
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Lucaci
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew MacKay
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - J Tyson McDonald
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Ari M Melnick
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cem Meydan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jakub Mieczkowski
- International Research Agenda 3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariam A Othman
- Redox Biology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Eliah G Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- BioAstra, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vera Paar
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jiwoon Park
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber M Paul
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
| | - Adrian Perdyan
- International Research Agenda 3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert J Reynolds
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- KBR, Inc., Houston, TX, USA
| | - April E Ronca
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Wake Forest Medical School, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Krista A Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren M Sanders
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | | | - Yash Shevde
- Ursa Biotechnology Corporation, Ursa Bio, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Ryan T Scott
- KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Bader Shirah
- Department of Neuroscience, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Karolina Sienkiewicz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria A Sierra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Keith Siew
- London Tubular Centre, Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen B Walsh
- London Tubular Centre, Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Walter
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel A Winer
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Luis Zea
- Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Jaguar Space, LLC, Erie, CO, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Kim J, Tierney BT, Overbey EG, Dantas E, Fuentealba M, Park J, Narayanan SA, Wu F, Najjar D, Chin CR, Meydan C, Loy C, Mathyk B, Klotz R, Ortiz V, Nguyen K, Ryon KA, Damle N, Houerbi N, Patras LI, Schanzer N, Hutchinson GA, Foox J, Bhattacharya C, Mackay M, Afshin EE, Hirschberg JW, Kleinman AS, Schmidt JC, Schmidt CM, Schmidt MA, Beheshti A, Matei I, Lyden D, Mullane S, Asadi A, Lenz JS, Mzava O, Yu M, Ganesan S, De Vlaminck I, Melnick AM, Barisic D, Winer DA, Zwart SR, Crucian BE, Smith SM, Mateus J, Furman D, Mason CE. Single-cell multi-ome and immune profiles of the Inspiration4 crew reveal conserved, cell-type, and sex-specific responses to spaceflight. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4954. [PMID: 38862516 PMCID: PMC11166952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49211-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight induces an immune response in astronauts. To better characterize this effect, we generated single-cell, multi-ome, cell-free RNA (cfRNA), biochemical, and hematology data for the SpaceX Inspiration4 (I4) mission crew. We found that 18 cytokines/chemokines related to inflammation, aging, and muscle homeostasis changed after spaceflight. In I4 single-cell multi-omics data, we identified a "spaceflight signature" of gene expression characterized by enrichment in oxidative phosphorylation, UV response, immune function, and TCF21 pathways. We confirmed the presence of this signature in independent datasets, including the NASA Twins Study, the I4 skin spatial transcriptomics, and 817 NASA GeneLab mouse transcriptomes. Finally, we observed that (1) T cells showed an up-regulation of FOXP3, (2) MHC class I genes exhibited long-term suppression, and (3) infection-related immune pathways were associated with microbiome shifts. In summary, this study reveals conserved and distinct immune disruptions occurring and details a roadmap for potential countermeasures to preserve astronaut health.
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Affiliation(s)
- JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Braden T Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Eliah G Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Center for STEM, University of Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- BioAstra, Inc, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ezequiel Dantas
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Matias Fuentealba
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Jiwoon Park
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - S Anand Narayanan
- Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Fei Wu
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Deena Najjar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
| | - Christopher R Chin
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Tri-Institutional Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Cem Meydan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Conor Loy
- Cornell University, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Begum Mathyk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Remi Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Khiem Nguyen
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Krista A Ryon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
| | - Namita Damle
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
| | - Nadia Houerbi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Laura I Patras
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nathan Schanzer
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
| | - Gwyneth A Hutchinson
- NASA Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jonathan Foox
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Chandrima Bhattacharya
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Tri-Institutional Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Matthew Mackay
- Tri-Institutional Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Evan E Afshin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Jeremy Wain Hirschberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Ashley S Kleinman
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Julian C Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, CO, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Caleb M Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, CO, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Systems Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Michael A Schmidt
- Sovaris Aerospace, Boulder, CO, USA
- Advanced Pattern Analysis & Human Performance Group, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Lyden
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sean Mullane
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Amran Asadi
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), Hawthorne, CA, USA
| | - Joan S Lenz
- Cornell University, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Omary Mzava
- Cornell University, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Saravanan Ganesan
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Cornell University, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Ari M Melnick
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Darko Barisic
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel A Winer
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Division of Cellular & Molecular Biology, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Sara R Zwart
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Brian E Crucian
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Human Health and Performance Directorate, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, 77058, USA
| | - Scott M Smith
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Human Health and Performance Directorate, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, 77058, USA
| | - Jaime Mateus
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - David Furman
- Buck Artificial Intelligence Platform, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
- Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94306, USA.
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, Argentina.
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 100221, USA.
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Tri-Institutional Biology and Medicine Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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Mathyk BA, Tabetah M, Karim R, Zaksas V, Kim J, Anu RI, Muratani M, Tasoula A, Singh RS, Chen YK, Overbey E, Park J, Cope H, Fazelinia H, Povero D, Borg J, Klotz RV, Yu M, Young SL, Mason CE, Szewczyk N, St Clair RM, Karouia F, Beheshti A. Spaceflight induces changes in gene expression profiles linked to insulin and estrogen. Commun Biol 2024; 7:692. [PMID: 38862620 PMCID: PMC11166981 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Organismal adaptations to spaceflight have been characterized at the molecular level in model organisms, including Drosophila and C. elegans. Here, we extend molecular work to energy metabolism and sex hormone signaling in mice and humans. We found spaceflight induced changes in insulin and estrogen signaling in rodents and humans. Murine changes were most prominent in the liver, where we observed inhibition of insulin and estrogen receptor signaling with concomitant hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis. Based on the metabolic demand, metabolic pathways mediated by insulin and estrogen vary among muscles, specifically between the soleus and extensor digitorum longus. In humans, spaceflight induced changes in insulin and estrogen related genes and pathways. Pathway analysis demonstrated spaceflight induced changes in insulin resistance, estrogen signaling, stress response, and viral infection. These data strongly suggest the need for further research on the metabolic and reproductive endocrinologic effects of space travel, if we are to become a successful interplanetary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begum Aydogan Mathyk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Marshall Tabetah
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Rashid Karim
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Victoria Zaksas
- Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Clever Research Lab, Springfield, IL, 62704, USA
| | - JangKeun Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - R I Anu
- Department of Cancer Biology & Therapeutics, Precision Oncology and Multi-omics clinic, Genetic counseling clinic. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Calicut, India
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
- Department of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan
| | - Alexia Tasoula
- Department of Life Science Engineering, FH Technikum, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Yen-Kai Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eliah Overbey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Jiwoon Park
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Henry Cope
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby, DE22 3DT, UK
| | - Hossein Fazelinia
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics and Proteomics Core Facility, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Davide Povero
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Joseph Borg
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Msida, MSD2090, Malta
| | - Remi V Klotz
- Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven L Young
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Duke School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and World Quant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Nathaniel Szewczyk
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby, DE22 3DT, UK
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Riley M St Clair
- Department of Life Sciences, Quest University, Squamish, BC, Canada
| | - Fathi Karouia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- Space Research Within Reach, San Francisco, CA, USA; Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.
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4
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Trappe TA, Minchev K, Perkins RK, Lavin KM, Jemiolo B, Ratchford SM, Claiborne A, Lee GA, Finch WH, Ryder JW, Ploutz-Snyder L, Trappe SW. NASA SPRINT exercise program efficacy for vastus lateralis and soleus skeletal muscle health during 70 days of simulated microgravity. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:1015-1039. [PMID: 38328821 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00489.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of the NASA SPRINT exercise countermeasures program for quadriceps (vastus lateralis) and triceps surae (soleus) skeletal muscle health was investigated during 70 days of simulated microgravity. Individuals completed 6° head-down-tilt bedrest (BR, n = 9), bedrest with resistance and aerobic exercise (BRE, n = 9), or bedrest with resistance and aerobic exercise and low-dose testosterone (BRE + T, n = 8). All groups were periodically tested for muscle (n = 9 times) and aerobic (n = 4 times) power during bedrest. In BR, surprisingly, the typical bedrest-induced decrements in vastus lateralis myofiber size and power were either blunted (myosin heavy chain, MHC I) or eliminated (MHC IIa), along with no change (P > 0.05) in %MHC distribution and blunted quadriceps atrophy. In BRE, MHC I (vastus lateralis and soleus) and IIa (vastus lateralis) contractile performance was maintained (P > 0.05) or increased (P < 0.05). Vastus lateralis hybrid fiber percentage was reduced (P < 0.05) and energy metabolism enzymes and capillarization were generally maintained (P > 0.05), while not all of these positive responses were observed in the soleus. Exercise offsets 100% of quadriceps and approximately two-thirds of soleus whole muscle mass loss. Testosterone (BRE + T) did not provide any benefit over exercise alone for either muscle and for some myocellular parameters appeared detrimental. In summary, the periodic testing likely provided a partial exercise countermeasure for the quadriceps in the bedrest group, which is a novel finding given the extremely low exercise dose. The SPRINT exercise program appears to be viable for the quadriceps; however, refinement is needed to completely protect triceps surae myocellular and whole muscle health for astronauts on long-duration spaceflights.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides unique exercise countermeasures development information for astronauts on long-duration spaceflights. The NASA SPRINT program was protective for quadriceps myocellular and whole muscle health, whereas the triceps surae (soleus) was only partially protected as has been shown with other programs. The bedrest control group data may provide beneficial information for overall exercise dose and targeting fast-twitch muscle fibers. Other unique approaches for the triceps surae are needed to supplement existing exercise programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Trappe
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Kiril Minchev
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Ryan K Perkins
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Kaleen M Lavin
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Bozena Jemiolo
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Stephen M Ratchford
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Alex Claiborne
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Gary A Lee
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - W Holmes Finch
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Jeffrey W Ryder
- Universities Space Research Association, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Lori Ploutz-Snyder
- Universities Space Research Association, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Scott W Trappe
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
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5
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Gimunová M, Paludo AC, Bernaciková M, Bienertova-Vasku J. The effect of space travel on human reproductive health: a systematic review. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:10. [PMID: 38238348 PMCID: PMC10796912 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00351-1] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
With increasing possibilities of multi-year missions in deep space, colonizing other planets, and space tourism, it is important to investigate the effects of space travel on human reproduction. This study aimed to systematically review and summarize the results of available literature on space travel, microgravity, and space radiation, or Earth-based spaceflight analogues impact on female and male reproductive functions in humans. This systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Space Biomedicine Systematic Review methods. The search was performed using three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline Complete. During the database search, 364 studies were identified. After the study selection process, 16 studies were included in the review. Five studies included female participants, and the findings show an increased risk of thromboembolism in combined oral contraceptive users, decreased decidualization, functional insufficiency of corpus luteum, and decreased progesterone and LH levels related to space travel or its simulation. Male participants were included in 13 studies. In males, reproductive health considerations focused on the decrease in testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels, the ratio of male offspring, sperm motility, sperm vitality, and the increase in sperm DNA fragmentation related to space travel or its simulation. Results of this systematic review highlight the need to focus more on the astronaut's reproductive health in future research, as only 16 studies were found during the literature search, and many more research questions related to reproductive health in astronauts still need to be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gimunová
- Department of Physical Activities and Health Sciences, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ana Carolina Paludo
- Department of Sport Performance and Exercise Testing, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Bernaciková
- Department of Physical Activities and Health Sciences, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Julie Bienertova-Vasku
- Department of Physical Activities and Health Sciences, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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6
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Kermorgant M, Chedmail T, Varenne F, Bareille MP, Beck A, Billette de Villemeur R, Fournié P, Grondin L, Hélissen O, Membrives C, Nasr N, Pavy-Le Traon A, Soler V. Neuro-ophthalmological changes in healthy females exposed to a 5-day dry immersion: a pilot study. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:4. [PMID: 38212301 PMCID: PMC10784282 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00344-0] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
After exposure to microgravity, astronauts undergo microgravity-induced thoraco-cephalic fluid shift, which may lead to ocular changes called "spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome" (SANS). The onset of SANS may be multifactorial, including a potential elevation in intracranial pressure. Moreover, little is known about the impact of spaceflight on SANS in women due to the fact that fewer female astronauts have spent time in long-term missions. The objective is to determine whether similar ophthalmological changes occur in healthy women after short-term exposure to microgravity. The auto-refractometer was used to determine objective refraction. The best corrected distance visual acuity was assessed with a Monoyer chart. The ocular axial length was assessed using optical biometry. The applanation tonometry was used to determine intraocular pressure. Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (pRNFLT), macular total retinal thickness, and ganglion cell complex (GCC) were measured using optical coherence tomography. Ocular axial length is reduced after DI. pRNFL is thickest after DI specifically in the temporal, temporal-inferior, and nasal-inferior quadrants. Macular total retinal at the inferior quadrant of the 6-mm ring is thickest after DI. Global GCC is thinnest after DI. In this study, 5 days of DI induces slight but significant ophthalmological changes in women. However, these subtle changes do not correspond to criteria defined in SANS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Kermorgant
- UMR INSERM U1297, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), Toulouse, France
| | - Thibault Chedmail
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Fanny Varenne
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Arnaud Beck
- Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES), Toulouse, France
| | | | - Pierre Fournié
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Lisa Grondin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ophélie Hélissen
- UMR INSERM U1297, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), Toulouse, France
| | | | - Nathalie Nasr
- UMR INSERM U1297, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), Toulouse, France
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Anne Pavy-Le Traon
- UMR INSERM U1297, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), Toulouse, France.
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Vincent Soler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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7
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Trappe TA, Tesch P, Alkner B, Trappe S. Microgravity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in women and men: implications for long-duration spaceflights to the Moon and Mars. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2023; 135:1115-1119. [PMID: 37795533 PMCID: PMC10979826 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00412.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The inclusion of women on spaceflights has historically been limited. Recently, the first woman who will travel to the Moon was selected, and more women are participating in long-duration spaceflights. However, physiological data from real and simulated microgravity exposure are limited in women. This investigation studied women (n = 8, 34 ± 1 yr) and men (n = 9, 32 ± 1 yr) who underwent 2 (women) or 3 (men) mo of simulated microgravity (6° head-down tilt bed rest). Quadriceps and triceps surae muscle volumes were assessed via MRI before bed rest, bed rest day 29 (BR29, women and men), bed rest day 57 (BR57, women), and bed rest day 89 (BR89, men). Volume of both muscle groups decreased (P < 0.05) in women and men at all bed rest timepoints. Quadriceps muscle volume loss in women was greater than men at 1 mo (BR29: -17% vs. -10%, P < 0.05) and this 1-mo loss for women was similar to men at 3 mo (BR89: -18%, P > 0.05). In addition, the loss in women at 2 mo (BR57: -21%) exceeded men at 3 mo (P < 0.05). For the triceps surae, there was a trend for greater muscle volume loss in women compared with men at 1 mo (BR29: -18% vs. -16%, P = 0.08), and loss in women at 2 mo was similar to men at 3 mo (BR57: -29%, BR89: -29%, P > 0.05). The collective evidence suggests that women experience greater lower limb muscle atrophy than men at least through the first 4 mo of microgravity exposure. More sex-specific microgravity studies are needed to help protect the health of women traveling on long-duration orbital and interplanetary spaceflights.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study adds to the limited evidence regarding sex-specific responses to real or simulated microgravity exposure, which collectively suggests a sex-specific muscle atrophy profile, with women losing more than men at least through the first 4 mo of weightlessness. Considering the increase in women being selected for space missions, including the first women to travel to the Moon, more physiological data on women in response to microgravity are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Trappe
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
| | - Per Tesch
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Alkner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Scott Trappe
- Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
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8
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Robin A, Van Ombergen A, Laurens C, Bergouignan A, Vico L, Linossier MT, Pavy-Le Traon A, Kermorgant M, Chopard A, Py G, Green DA, Tipton M, Choukér A, Denise P, Normand H, Blanc S, Simon C, Rosnet E, Larcher F, Fernandez P, de Glisezinski I, Larrouy D, Harant-Farrugia I, Antunes I, Gauquelin-Koch G, Bareille MP, Billette De Villemeur R, Custaud MA, Navasiolava N. Comprehensive assessment of physiological responses in women during the ESA dry immersion VIVALDI microgravity simulation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6311. [PMID: 37813884 PMCID: PMC10562467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Astronauts in microgravity experience multi-system deconditioning, impacting their inflight efficiency and inducing dysfunctions upon return to Earth gravity. To fill the sex gap of knowledge in the health impact of spaceflights, we simulate microgravity with a 5-day dry immersion in 18 healthy women (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05043974). Here we show that dry immersion rapidly induces a sedentarily-like metabolism shift mimicking the beginning of a metabolic syndrome with a drop in glucose tolerance, an increase in the atherogenic index of plasma, and an impaired lipid profile. Bone remodeling markers suggest a decreased bone formation coupled with an increased bone resorption. Fluid shifts and muscular unloading participate to a marked cardiovascular and sensorimotor deconditioning with decreased orthostatic tolerance, aerobic capacity, and postural balance. Collected datasets provide a comprehensive multi-systemic assessment of dry immersion effects in women and pave the way for future sex-based evaluations of countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Robin
- Univ Angers, CRC, CHU Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, Equipe CARME, SFR ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France.
| | | | - Claire Laurens
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Paul Sabatier University, UMR1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Audrey Bergouignan
- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Division of Endocrinology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Laurence Vico
- INSERM, University Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Etienne, U 1059, Saint Etienne, France
| | | | - Anne Pavy-Le Traon
- Department of Neurology, CHU Toulouse and I2MC-INSERM 1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Kermorgant
- Department of Neurology, CHU Toulouse and I2MC-INSERM 1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Angèle Chopard
- DMEM, Montpellier University, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Py
- DMEM, Montpellier University, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - David Andrew Green
- Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Tipton
- Extreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2EF, UK
| | - Alexander Choukér
- Laboratory of Translational Research Stress and Immunity, Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Pierre Denise
- Université de Caen Normandie, Inserm, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - Hervé Normand
- Université de Caen Normandie, Inserm, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - Stéphane Blanc
- DEPE-IPHC - Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Chantal Simon
- CarMeN Laboratory, INSERM 1060, INRA 1397, University Claude Bernard Lyon1, Human Nutrition Research Center Rhône-Alpes, Oullins, France
| | - Elisabeth Rosnet
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Peter Fernandez
- INSERM, University Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Etienne, U 1059, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Isabelle de Glisezinski
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Paul Sabatier University, UMR1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Dominique Larrouy
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Paul Sabatier University, UMR1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Harant-Farrugia
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Paul Sabatier University, UMR1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Inês Antunes
- Telespazio Belgium S.R.L. for the European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Marc-Antoine Custaud
- Univ Angers, CRC, CHU Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, Equipe CARME, SFR ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France.
| | - Nastassia Navasiolava
- Univ Angers, CRC, CHU Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, Equipe CARME, SFR ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France.
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9
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Nosikova I, Riabova A, Kitov V, Tomilovskaya E. Corticospinal excitability after 5-day Dry Immersion in women. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1163346. [PMID: 37811482 PMCID: PMC10556517 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1163346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In light of the development of manned astronautics and the increasing participation of women in space flights, the question of female body adaptation to microgravity conditions becomes relevant. Currently, one of the important directions in this issue is to study the effects of support withdrawal as a factor of weightlessness on the human sensorimotor system. Dry Immersion is one of the well-known ground-based models, which adequately reproduces the main physiological effects of space flight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in motor evoked potentials of the lower leg gravity-dependent muscles in women after a 5-day Dry Immersion. We analyzed evoked responses to transcranial and trans-spinal magnetic stimulation. In this method, areas of interest (the motor cortex and lumbosacral thickening of the spinal cord) are stimulated with an electromagnetic stimulus. The experiment was conducted with the participation of 16 healthy female volunteers with a natural menstrual cycle. The thresholds, amplitudes, and latencies of motor potentials evoked by magnetic stimulation were assessed. We showed that 5-day exposure to support withdrawal leads to a decrease in motor-evoked potential thresholds and central motor conduction time, although changes in motor response amplitudes were ambiguous. The data obtained correspond to the results of previous research on Dry Immersion effects on the sensorimotor system in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Nosikova
- Laboratory of Gravitational Physiology of the Sensorimotor System, Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra Riabova
- Laboratory of Gravitational Physiology of the Sensorimotor System, Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Kitov
- Laboratory of Gravitational Physiology of the Sensorimotor System, Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Tomilovskaya
- Laboratory of Gravitational Physiology of the Sensorimotor System, Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Tichy ED, Lee JH, Li G, Estep KN, Brad Johnson F, Mourkioti F. Impacts of radiation exposure, hindlimb unloading, and recovery on murine skeletal muscle cell telomere length. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:76. [PMID: 37714858 PMCID: PMC10504369 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00303-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Astronauts are exposed to harsh conditions, including cosmic radiation and microgravity. Spaceflight elongates human telomeres in peripheral blood, which shorten upon return to Earth and approach baseline levels during postflight recovery. Astronauts also encounter muscle atrophy, losing up to 20% loss of muscle mass on spaceflights. Telomere length changes in muscle cells of astronauts remain unexplored. This study investigates telomere alterations in grounded mice experiencing radiation exposure and muscle atrophy, via a hindlimb unloading spaceflight mimicking model. We find telomere lengthening is present in muscle stem cells and in myofiber nuclei, but not in muscle-resident endothelial cells. We further assessed telomere length in the model following hindlimb unloading recovery. We find that telomere length failed to return to baseline values. Our results suggest a role for telomeres in muscle acclimatization, which is relevant for the well-being of astronauts in space, and upon their return to Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisia D Tichy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ji-Hyung Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Grant Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Katrina N Estep
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - F Brad Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Foteini Mourkioti
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Musculoskeletal Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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11
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Ruitenberg MFL, Koppelmans V, Seidler RD, Schomaker J. Developmental and age differences in visuomotor adaptation across the lifespan. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:1710-1717. [PMID: 36617621 PMCID: PMC10366290 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01784-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present cross-sectional study, we examined age and sex differences in sensorimotor adaptation. We tested 253 individuals at a local science museum (NEMO Science Museum, Amsterdam). Participants spanned a wide age range (8-70 years old; 54% male), allowing us to examine effects of both development and healthy aging within a single study. Participants performed a visuomotor adaptation task in which they had to adapt manual joystick movements to rotated visual feedback. We assessed the rate of adaptation following the introduction of the visual perturbation (both for early and later stages of adaptation), and the rate of de-adaptation following its removal. Results showed reliable adaptation patterns which did not differ by sex. We observed a quadratic relationship between age and both early adaptation and de-adaptation rates, with younger and older adults exhibiting the fasted adaptation rates. Our findings suggest that both younger and older age are associated with poorer strategic, cognitive processes involved in adaptation. We propose that developmental and age differences in cognitive functions and brain properties may underlie these effects on sensorimotor functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit F L Ruitenberg
- Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Pieter de La Court Building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Rachael D Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Judith Schomaker
- Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Pieter de La Court Building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Puukila S, Siu O, Rubinstein L, Tahimic CGT, Lowe M, Tabares Ruiz S, Korostenskij I, Semel M, Iyer J, Mhatre SD, Shirazi-Fard Y, Alwood JS, Paul AM, Ronca AE. Galactic Cosmic Irradiation Alters Acute and Delayed Species-Typical Behavior in Male and Female Mice. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051214. [PMID: 37240858 DOI: 10.3390/life13051214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to space galactic cosmic radiation is a principal consideration for deep space missions. While the effects of space irradiation on the nervous system are not fully known, studies in animal models have shown that exposure to ionizing radiation can cause neuronal damage and lead to downstream cognitive and behavioral deficits. Cognitive health implications put humans and missions at risk, and with the upcoming Artemis missions in which female crew will play a major role, advance critical analysis of the neurological and performance responses of male and female rodents to space radiation is vital. Here, we tested the hypothesis that simulated Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCRSim) exposure disrupts species-typical behavior in mice, including burrowing, rearing, grooming, and nest-building that depend upon hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex circuitry. Behavior comprises a remarkably well-integrated representation of the biology of the whole animal that informs overall neural and physiological status, revealing functional impairment. We conducted a systematic dose-response analysis of mature (6-month-old) male and female mice exposed to either 5, 15, or 50 cGy 5-ion GCRSim (H, Si, He, O, Fe) at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL). Behavioral performance was evaluated at 72 h (acute) and 91-days (delayed) postradiation exposure. Specifically, species-typical behavior patterns comprising burrowing, rearing, and grooming as well as nest building were analyzed. A Neuroscore test battery (spontaneous activity, proprioception, vibrissae touch, limb symmetry, lateral turning, forelimb outstretching, and climbing) was performed at the acute timepoint to investigate early sensorimotor deficits postirradiation exposure. Nest construction, a measure of neurological and organizational function in rodents, was evaluated using a five-stage Likert scale 'Deacon' score that ranged from 1 (a low score where the Nestlet is untouched) to 5 (a high score where the Nestlet is completely shredded and shaped into a nest). Differential acute responses were observed in females relative to males with respect to species-typical behavior following 15 cGy exposure while delayed responses were observed in female grooming following 50 cGy exposure. Significant sex differences were observed at both timepoints in nest building. No deficits in sensorimotor behavior were observed via the Neuroscore. This study revealed subtle, sexually dimorphic GCRSim exposure effects on mouse behavior. Our analysis provides a clearer understanding of GCR dose effects on species typical, sensorimotor and organizational behaviors at acute and delayed timeframes postirradiation, thereby setting the stage for the identification of underlying cellular and molecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Puukila
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Olivia Siu
- Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP), NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
| | - Linda Rubinstein
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD 21046, USA
- The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Hospital, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Candice G T Tahimic
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Moniece Lowe
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA 98154, USA
| | - Steffy Tabares Ruiz
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA 98154, USA
| | - Ivan Korostenskij
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Maya Semel
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD 21046, USA
- KBR, Houston, TX 77002, USA
| | - Siddhita D Mhatre
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- KBR, Houston, TX 77002, USA
| | - Yasaman Shirazi-Fard
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Joshua S Alwood
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Amber M Paul
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA 98154, USA
| | - April E Ronca
- NASA, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Wake Forest Medical School, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
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13
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Scott JPR, Green DA, Weerts G, Cheuvront SN. Effects of body size and countermeasure exercise on estimates of life support resources during all-female crewed exploration missions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5950. [PMID: 37045858 PMCID: PMC10097614 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Employing a methodology reported in a recent theoretical study on male astronauts, this study estimated the effects of body size and aerobic countermeasure (CM) exercise in a four-person, all-female crew composed of individuals drawn from a stature range (1.50- to 1.90-m) representative of current space agency requirements (which exist for stature, but not for body mass) upon total energy expenditure (TEE), oxygen (O2) consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) and metabolic heat (Hprod) production, and water requirements for hydration, during space exploration missions. Assuming geometric similarity across the stature range, estimates were derived using available female astronaut data (mean age: 40-years; BMI: 22.7-kg·m-2; resting VO2 and VO2max: 3.3- and 40.5-mL·kg-1·min-1) on 30- and 1080-day missions, without and with, ISS-like countermeasure exercise (modelled as 2 × 30-min aerobic exercise at 75% VO2max, 6-day·week-1). Where spaceflight-specific data/equations were not available, terrestrial equivalents were used. Body size alone increased 24-h TEE (+ 30%), O2 consumption (+ 60%), CO2 (+ 60%) and Hprod (+ 60%) production, and water requirements (+ 17%). With CM exercise, the increases were + 25-31%, + 29%, + 32%, + 38% and + 17-25% across the stature range. Compared to the previous study of theoretical male astronauts, the effect of body size on TEE was markedly less in females, and, at equivalent statures, all parameter estimates were lower for females, with relative differences ranging from -5% to -29%. When compared at the 50th percentile for stature for US females and males, these differences increased to - 11% to - 41% and translated to larger reductions in TEE, O2 and water requirements, and less CO2 and Hprod during 1080-day missions using CM exercise. Differences between female and male theoretical astronauts result from lower resting and exercising O2 requirements (based on available astronaut data) of female astronauts, who are lighter than male astronauts at equivalent statures and have lower relative VO2max values. These data, combined with the current move towards smaller diameter space habitat modules, point to a number of potential advantages of all-female crews during future human space exploration missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P R Scott
- Institut Médecine Physiologie Spatiale (MEDES), Toulouse, France.
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany.
| | - David A Green
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany
- KBR GmbH, Cologne, Germany
- Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Guillaume Weerts
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany
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14
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Harris KM, Arya R, Elias A, Weber T, Green DA, Greaves DK, Petersen LG, Roberts L, Kamine TH, Mazzolai L, Bergauer A, Kim DS, Olde Engberink RH, zu Eulenberg P, Grassi B, Zuccarelli L, Baldassarre G, Tabury K, Baatout S, Jordan J, Blaber AP, Choukér A, Russomano T, Goswami N. Pathophysiology, risk, diagnosis, and management of venous thrombosis in space: where are we now? NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:17. [PMID: 36797288 PMCID: PMC9935502 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00260-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent incidental discovery of an asymptomatic venous thrombosis (VT) in the internal jugular vein of an astronaut on the International Space Station prompted a necessary, immediate response from the space medicine community. The European Space Agency formed a topical team to review the pathophysiology, risk and clinical presentation of venous thrombosis and the evaluation of its prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, and management strategies in spaceflight. In this article, we discuss the findings of the ESA VT Topical Team over its 2-year term, report the key gaps as we see them in the above areas which are hindering understanding VT in space. We provide research recommendations in a stepwise manner that build upon existing resources, and highlight the initial steps required to enable further evaluation of this newly identified pertinent medical risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Harris
- grid.25055.370000 0000 9130 6822Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
| | - Roopen Arya
- grid.429705.d0000 0004 0489 4320Kings College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Antoine Elias
- Vascular Medicine, Toulon Hospital Centre, Toulon, France
| | - Tobias Weber
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany. .,KBR, Cologne, Germany.
| | - David A. Green
- grid.461733.40000 0001 2375 6474Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany ,KBR, Cologne, Germany ,grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Danielle K. Greaves
- grid.46078.3d0000 0000 8644 1405Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Lonnie G. Petersen
- grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
| | - Lara Roberts
- grid.429705.d0000 0004 0489 4320Kings College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tovy Haber Kamine
- grid.281162.e0000 0004 0433 813XDivision of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA USA
| | - Lucia Mazzolai
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Department of Angiology, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - David S. Kim
- grid.461733.40000 0001 2375 6474Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, Cologne, Germany ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department Emergency Medicine, University British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rik H. Olde Engberink
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Microcirculation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter zu Eulenberg
- grid.5252.00000 0004 1936 973XInstitute for Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bruno Grassi
- grid.5390.f0000 0001 2113 062XDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Zuccarelli
- grid.5390.f0000 0001 2113 062XDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giovanni Baldassarre
- grid.5390.f0000 0001 2113 062XDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Kevin Tabury
- grid.8953.70000 0000 9332 3503Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Sarah Baatout
- grid.8953.70000 0000 9332 3503Radiobiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jens Jordan
- grid.7551.60000 0000 8983 7915Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center and University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Andrew P. Blaber
- grid.61971.380000 0004 1936 7494Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
| | - Alexander Choukér
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Translational Research Stress & Immunity, Klinik für Anästhesiologie/Forschungslabors, LMU Klinikum, München, Germany
| | - Thais Russomano
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Translational Research Stress & Immunity, Klinik für Anästhesiologie/Forschungslabors, LMU Klinikum, München, Germany ,InnovaSpace UK, London, UK
| | - Nandu Goswami
- grid.11598.340000 0000 8988 2476Division of Physiology, Otto Löwi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria ,Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Applied Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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15
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Veliz AL, Mamoun L, Hughes L, Vega R, Holmes B, Monteon A, Bray J, Pecaut MJ, Kearns-Jonker M. Transcriptomic Effects on the Mouse Heart Following 30 Days on the International Space Station. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020371. [PMID: 36830740 PMCID: PMC9953463 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Efforts to understand the impact of spaceflight on the human body stem from growing interest in long-term space travel. Multiple organ systems are affected by microgravity and radiation, including the cardiovascular system. Previous transcriptomic studies have sought to reveal the changes in gene expression after spaceflight. However, little is known about the impact of long-term spaceflight on the mouse heart in vivo. This study focuses on the transcriptomic changes in the hearts of female C57BL/6J mice flown on the International Space Station (ISS) for 30 days. RNA was isolated from the hearts of three flight and three comparable ground control mice and RNA sequencing was performed. Our analyses showed that 1147 transcripts were significantly regulated after spaceflight. The MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and GPCR signaling pathways were predicted to be activated. Transcripts related to cytoskeleton breakdown and organization were upregulated, but no significant change in the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components or oxidative stress pathway-associated transcripts occurred. Our results indicate an absence of cellular senescence, and a significant upregulation of transcripts associated with the cell cycle. Transcripts related to cellular maintenance and survival were most affected by spaceflight, suggesting that cardiovascular transcriptome initiates an adaptive response to long-term spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia L. Veliz
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Lana Mamoun
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Lorelei Hughes
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Richard Vega
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Bailey Holmes
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Andrea Monteon
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Jillian Bray
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Michael J. Pecaut
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Mary Kearns-Jonker
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Correspondence:
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16
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Dubé S, Santaguida M, Anctil D, Giaccari L, Lapierre J. The Case for Space Sexology. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2023; 60:165-176. [PMID: 34878963 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.2012639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Space poses significant challenges for human intimacy and sexuality. Life in space habitats during long-term travel, exploration, or settlement may: detrimentally impact the sexual and reproductive functions of astronauts, restrict privacy and access to intimate partners, impose hygiene protocols and abstinence policies, and heighten risks of interpersonal conflicts and sexual violence. Together, this may jeopardize the health and well-being of space inhabitants, crew performance, and mission success. Yet, little attention has been given to the sexological issues of human life in space. This situation is untenable considering our upcoming space missions and expansion. It is time for space organizations to embrace a new discipline, space sexology: the scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy and sexuality. To make this case, we draw attention to the lack of research on space intimacy and sexuality; discuss the risks and benefits of extraterrestrial eroticism; and propose an initial biopsychosocial framework to envision a broad, collaborative scientific agenda on space sexology. We also underline key anticipated challenges faced by this innovative field and suggest paths to solutions. We conclude that space programs and exploration require a new perspective - one that holistically addresses the intimate and sexual needs of humans - in our pursuit of a spacefaring civilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dubé
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University
| | | | - D Anctil
- Department of Philosophy, Jean-de-Brébeuf College
- International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology, Laval University
| | - L Giaccari
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University
| | - J Lapierre
- Faculty of Nursing Science, Laval University
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17
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Picone DS, Kodithuwakku V, Mayer CC, Chapman N, Rehman S, Climie RE. Sex differences in pressure and flow waveform physiology across the life course. J Hypertens 2022; 40:2373-2384. [PMID: 36093877 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has long been deemed a disease of old men. However, in 2019 CVD accounted for 35% of all deaths in women and, therefore, remains the leading cause of death in both men and women. There is increasing evidence to show that risk factors, pathophysiology and health outcomes related to CVD differ in women compared with men, yet CVD in women remains understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated. Differences exist between the sexes in relation to the structure of the heart and vasculature, which translate into differences in blood pressure and flow waveform physiology. These physiological differences between women and men may represent an important explanatory factor contributing to the sex disparity in CVD presentation and outcomes but remain understudied. In this review we aim to describe sex differences in arterial pressure and flow waveform physiology and explore how they may contribute to differences in CVD in women compared to men. Given that unfavourable alterations in the cardiovascular structure and function can start as early as in utero, we report sex differences in waveform physiology across the entire life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean S Picone
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Christopher C Mayer
- Medical Signal Analysis, Center for Health & Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Niamh Chapman
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sabah Rehman
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Rachel E Climie
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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18
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Arshad I, Ferrè ER. Express: Cognition in Zero Gravity: Effects of Non-Terrestrial Gravity on Human Behaviour. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2022; 76:979-994. [PMID: 35786100 PMCID: PMC10119906 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221113935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As humanity prepares for deep space exploration, understanding the impact of spaceflight on bodily physiology is critical. While the effects of non-terrestrial gravity on the body are well established, little is known about its impact on human behaviour and cognition. Astronauts often describe dramatic alterations in sensorimotor functioning, including orientation, postural control and balance. Changes in cognitive functioning as well as in socio-affective processing have also been observed. Here we have reviewed the key literature and explored the impact of non-terrestrial gravity across three key functional domains: sensorimotor, cognition, and socio-affective processing. We have proposed a neuroanatomical model to account for the effects of non-terrestrial gravity in these domains. Understanding the impact of non-terrestrial gravity on human behaviour has never been more timely and it will help mitigate against risks in both commercial and non-commercial spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Arshad
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK 3162
| | - Elisa Raffaella Ferrè
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, UK 3162
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19
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Van Cutsem J, Pattyn N, Mairesse O, Delwiche B, Fernandez Tellez H, Van Puyvelde M, Lacroix E, McDonnell AC, Eiken O, Mekjavic IB. Adult Female Sleep During Hypoxic Bed Rest. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:852741. [PMID: 35620666 PMCID: PMC9127600 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.852741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Hypobaric hypoxic habitats are currently being touted as a potential solution to minimise decompression procedures in preparation for extra vehicular activities during future space missions. Since astronauts will live in hypoxic environments for the duration of such missions, the present study sought to elucidate the separate and combined effects of inactivity [simulated with the experimental bed rest (BR) model] and hypoxia on sleep characteristics in women. Methods Twelve women (Age = 27 ± 3 year) took part in three 10-day interventions, in a repeated measures cross-over counterbalanced design: (1) normobaric normoxic BR (NBR), (2) normobaric hypoxic BR (HBR; simulated altitude of 4,000 m), and (3) normobaric hypoxic ambulatory (HAMB; 4,000 m) confinement, during which sleep was assessed on night 1 and night 10 with polysomnography. In addition, one baseline sleep assessment was performed. This baseline assessment, although lacking a confinement aspect, was included statistically as a fourth comparison (i.e., pseudo normobaric normoxic ambulatory; pNAMB) in the present study. Results Hypoxia decreased sleep efficiency (p = 0.019), increased N1% sleep (p = 0.030), decreased N3 sleep duration (p = 0.003), and increased apnea hypopnea index (p < 0.001). BR impaired sleep maintenance, efficiency, and architecture [e.g., N2% sleep increased (p = 0.033)]. Specifically, for N3% sleep, the effects of partial pressure of oxygen and activity interacted. Hypoxia decreased N3% sleep both when active (pNAMB vs HAMB; p < 0.001) and inactive (NBR vs HBR; p = 0.021), however, this decrease was attenuated in the inactive state (–3.8%) compared to the active state (–10.2%). Conclusion A 10-day exposure to hypoxia and BR negatively impacted sleep on multiple levels as in macrostructure, microstructure and respiratory functioning. Interestingly, hypoxia appeared to have less adverse effects on sleep macrostructure while the participants were inactive (bed ridden) compared to when ambulatory. Data were missing to some extent (i.e., 20.8%). Therefore, multiple imputation was used, and our results should be considered as exploratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Van Cutsem
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jeroen Van Cutsem, , orcid.org/0000-0001-6122-7629
| | - Nathalie Pattyn
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Mairesse
- Sleep Laboratory and Unit for Chronobiology U78, Brugmann University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bérénice Delwiche
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Martine Van Puyvelde
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Experimental and Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Clinical & Lifespan Psychology, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emilie Lacroix
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adam C. McDonnell
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ola Eiken
- Department of Environmental Physiology, Swedish Aerospace Physiology centre, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Igor B. Mekjavic
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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20
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Koppelmans V, Mulavara AP, Seidler RD, De Dios YE, Bloomberg JJ, Wood SJ. Cortical thickness of primary motor and vestibular brain regions predicts recovery from fall and balance directly after spaceflight. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:2073-2086. [PMID: 35469104 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02492-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Motor adaptations to the microgravity environment during spaceflight allow astronauts to perform adequately in this unique environment. Upon return to Earth, this adaptation is no longer appropriate and can be disruptive for mission critical tasks. Here, we measured if metrics derived from MRI scans collected from astronauts can predict motor performance post-flight. Structural and diffusion MRI scans from 14 astronauts collected before launch, and motor measures (balance performance, speed of recovery from fall, and tandem walk step accuracy) collected pre-flight and post-flight were analyzed. Regional measures of gray matter volume (motor cortex, paracentral lobule, cerebellum), myelin density (motor cortex, paracentral lobule, corticospinal tract), and white matter microstructure (corticospinal tract) were derived as a-priori predictors. Additional whole-brain analyses of cortical thickness, cerebellar gray matter, and cortical myelin were also tested for associations with post-flight and pre-to-post-flight motor performance. The pre-selected regional measures were not significantly associated with motor behavior. However, whole-brain analyses showed that paracentral and precentral gyri thickness significantly predicted recovery from fall post-spaceflight. Thickness of vestibular and sensorimotor regions, including the posterior insula and the superior temporal gyrus, predicted balance performance post-flight and pre-to-post-flight decrements. Greater cortical thickness pre-flight predicted better performance post-flight. Regional thickness of somatosensory, motor, and vestibular brain regions has some predictive value for post-flight motor performance in astronauts, which may be used for the identification of training and countermeasure strategies targeted for maintaining operational task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rachael D Seidler
- Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Jacob J Bloomberg
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Scott J Wood
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
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21
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Numerical characterization of astronaut CaOx renal stone incidence rates to quantify in-flight and post-flight relative risk. NPJ Microgravity 2022; 8:2. [PMID: 35091560 PMCID: PMC8799707 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-021-00187-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in urine chemistry potentially alter the risk of renal stone formation in astronauts. Quantifying spaceflight renal stone incidence risk compared to pre-flight levels remains a significant challenge for assessing the appropriate vehicle, mission, and countermeasure design. A computational biochemistry model representing CaOx crystal precipitation, growth, and agglomeration is combined with a probabilistic analysis to predict the in- and post-flight CaOx renal stone incidence risk ratio (IRR) relative to pre-flight values using 1517 astronaut 24-h urine chemistries. Our simulations predict that in-flight fluid intake alone would need to increase from current prescriptions of 2.0–2.5 L/day to ~3.2 L/day to approach the CaOx IRR of the pre-flight population. Bone protective interventions would reduce CaOx risk to pre-flight levels if Ca excretion alone is reduced to <150 mg/day or if current levels are diminished to 190 mg/day in combination with increasing fluid intake to 2.5–2.7 L/day. This analysis provides a quantitative risk assessment that can influence the critical balance between engineering and astronaut health requirements.
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22
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Kim KJ, Rivas E, Prejean B, Frisco D, Young M, Downs M. Novel Computerized Method for Automated Determination of Ventilatory Threshold and Respiratory Compensation Point. Front Physiol 2022; 12:782167. [PMID: 34975535 PMCID: PMC8718913 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.782167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The ventilatory threshold (named as VT1) and the respiratory compensation point (named as VT2) describe prominent changes of metabolic demand and exercise intensity domains during an incremental exercise test. Methods: A novel computerized method based on the optimization method was developed for automatically determining VT1 and VT2 from expired air during a progressive maximal exercise test. A total of 109 peak cycle tests were performed by members of the US astronaut corps (74 males and 35 females). We compared the automatically determined VT1 and VT2 values against the visual subjective and independent analyses of three trained evaluators. We also characterized VT1 and VT2 and the respective absolute and relative work rates and distinguished differences between sexes. Results: The automated compared to the visual subjective values were analyzed for differences with t test, for agreement with Bland–Altman plots, and for equivalence with a two one-sided test approach. The results showed that the automated and visual subjective methods were statistically equivalent, and the proposed approach reliably determined VT1 and VT2 values. Females had lower absolute O2 uptake, work rate, and ventilation, and relative O2 uptake at VT1 and VT2 compared to men (p ≤ 0.04). VT1 and VT2 occurred at a greater relative percentage of their peak VO2 for females (67 and 88%) compared to males (55 and 74%; main effect for sex: p < 0.001). Overall, VT1 occurred at 58% of peak VO2, and VT2 occurred at 79% of peak VO2 (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Improvements in determining of VT1 and VT2 by automated analysis are time efficient, valid, and comparable to subjective visual analysis and may provide valuable information in research and clinical practice as well as identifying exercise intensity domains of crewmembers in space.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Meghan Downs
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
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23
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Pollock RD, Hodkinson PD, Smith TG. Oh G: The x, y and z of human physiological responses to acceleration. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:2367-2384. [PMID: 34730860 DOI: 10.1113/ep089712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the topic of this review? This review focuses on the main physiological challenges associated with exposure to acceleration in the Gx, Gy and Gz directions and to microgravity. What advances does it highlight? Our current understanding of the physiology of these environments and latest strategies to protect against them are discussed in light of the limited knowledge we have in some of these areas. ABSTRACT The desire to go higher, faster and further has taken us to environments where the accelerations placed on our bodies far exceed or are much lower than that attributable to Earth's gravity. While on the ground, racing drivers of the fastest cars are exposed to high degrees of lateral acceleration (Gy) during cornering. In the air, while within the confines of the lower reaches of Earth's atmosphere, fast jet pilots are routinely exposed to high levels of acceleration in the head-foot direction (Gz). During launch and re-entry of suborbital and orbital spacecraft, astronauts and spaceflight participants are exposed to high levels of chest-back acceleration (Gx), whereas once in space the effects of gravity are all but removed (termed microgravity, μG). Each of these environments has profound effects on the homeostatic mechanisms within the body and can have a serious impact, not only for those with underlying pathology but also for healthy individuals. This review provides an overview of the main challenges associated with these environments and our current understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological adaptations to them. Where relevant, protection strategies are discussed, with the implications of our future exposure to these environments also being considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross D Pollock
- Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Peter D Hodkinson
- Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas G Smith
- Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Anaesthesia, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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24
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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.
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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
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25
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Mlinar T, Jaki Mekjavic P, Royal JT, Valencic T, Mekjavic IB. Intraocular pressure during handgrip exercise: The effect of posture and hypercapnia in young males. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e15035. [PMID: 34665531 PMCID: PMC8525324 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE As part of our investigations of intraocular pressure (IOP) as a potential contributing factor to the spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome using the 6° head-down tilt (6°HDT) bed rest experimental model, we compared the effect of rest and isometric exercise in prone and supine 6°HDT positions on IOP with that observed in the seated position. METHODS Ten male volunteers (age = 22.5 ± 3.1 yrs) participated in six interventions. All trials comprised a 10-min rest period, a 3-min isometric handgrip exercise at 30% of participant's maximum, and a 10-min recovery period. The trials were conducted under normocapnic (NCAP) or hypercapnic (FI CO2 = 0.01; HCAP) conditions, the latter mimicking the ambient conditions on the International Space Station. IOP, systolic and diastolic pressures, and heart rate (HR) were measured during the trials. RESULTS Isometric exercise-induced elevations in HR and mean arterial blood pressure. IOP in the prone 6°HDT position was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to IOP in supine 6°HDT position and seated trials at all time points. IOP increased with exercise only in a seated HCAP trial (p = 0.042). No difference was observed between trials in NCAP and HCAP. IOP in the prone 6°HDT position was constantly elevated above 21 mmHg, the lower limit for clinical ocular hypertension. CONCLUSIONS IOP in the prone 6°HDT position was similar to IOP reported in astronauts upon entering microgravity, potentially indicating that prone, rather than supine 6°HDT position might be a more suitable experimental analog for investigating the acute ocular changes that occur in microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinkara Mlinar
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and RoboticsJozef Stefan InstituteLjubljanaSlovenia
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate SchoolLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Polona Jaki Mekjavic
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and RoboticsJozef Stefan InstituteLjubljanaSlovenia
- Eye HospitalUniversity Medical CentreLjubljanaSlovenia
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Joshua T. Royal
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and RoboticsJozef Stefan InstituteLjubljanaSlovenia
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate SchoolLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Tamara Valencic
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and RoboticsJozef Stefan InstituteLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Igor B. Mekjavic
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and RoboticsJozef Stefan InstituteLjubljanaSlovenia
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and KinesiologySimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
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26
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Tomilovskaya E, Amirova L, Nosikova I, Rukavishnikov I, Chernogorov R, Lebedeva S, Saveko A, Ermakov I, Ponomarev I, Zelenskaya I, Shigueva T, Shishkin N, Kitov V, Riabova A, Brykov V, Abu Sheli N, Vassilieva G, Orlov O. The First Female Dry Immersion (NAIAD-2020): Design and Specifics of a 3-Day Study. Front Physiol 2021; 12:661959. [PMID: 34194336 PMCID: PMC8236811 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.661959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes procedures and some results of the first study of females undergoing 3-day Dry Immersion. The experiment “NAIAD-2020” was carried out at the Institute of Biomedical Problems (Moscow, Russia) with the participation of six healthy women volunteers (age 30.17 ± 5.5 years, height 1.66 ± 0.1 m, weight 62.05 ± 8.4 kg, BMI 22.39 ± 2.2 kg/m2) with a natural menstrual cycle. During the study, a standard protocol was used, the same as for men, with a minimum period of time spent outside the immersion bath. Before, during and after Immersion, 22 experiments were carried out aimed at studying the neurophysiological, functional, metabolic and psychophysiological functions of the body, the results of which will be presented in future publications. The total time outside the bath for women did not exceed that for men. Systolic and diastolic pressure did not significantly change during the immersion. In the first 24 h after the end of the immersion, heart rate was significantly higher than the background values [F(4,20) = 14.67; P < 0.0001]. Changes in body temperature and water balance were consistent with the patterns found in men. No significant changes in height and weight were found during immersion. All women reported general discomfort and pain in the abdomen and back. The results of this study did not find significant risks to women’s health and showed the feasibility of using this model of the effects of space flight in women of reproductive age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tomilovskaya
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liubov Amirova
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna Nosikova
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya Rukavishnikov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman Chernogorov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana Lebedeva
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alina Saveko
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan Ermakov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan Ponomarev
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna Zelenskaya
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Shigueva
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikita Shishkin
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Kitov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra Riabova
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vitaly Brykov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nelly Abu Sheli
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina Vassilieva
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg Orlov
- Russian Federation State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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27
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Kramer A, Venegas-Carro M, Zange J, Sies W, Maffiuletti NA, Gruber M, Degens H, Moreno-Villanueva M, Mulder E. Daily 30-min exposure to artificial gravity during 60 days of bed rest does not maintain aerobic exercise capacity but mitigates some deteriorations of muscle function: results from the AGBRESA RCT. Eur J Appl Physiol 2021; 121:2015-2026. [PMID: 33811556 PMCID: PMC8192329 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04673-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spaceflight impairs physical capacity. Here we assessed the protective effect of artificial gravity (AG) on aerobic exercise capacity and muscle function during bed rest, a spaceflight analogue. METHODS 24 participants (33 ± 9 years, 175 ± 9 cm, 74 ± 10 kg, 8 women) were randomly allocated to one of three groups: continuous AG (cAG), intermittent AG (iAG) or control (CTRL). All participants were subjected to 60 days of six-degree head-down tilt bed rest, and subjects of the intervention groups completed 30 min of centrifugation per day: cAG continuously and iAG for 6 × 5 min, with an acceleration of 1g at the center of mass. Physical capacity was assessed before and after bed rest via maximal voluntary contractions, cycling spiroergometry, and countermovement jumps. RESULTS AG had no significant effect on aerobic exercise capacity, flexor muscle function and isometric knee extension strength or rate of force development (RFD). However, AG mitigated the effects of bed rest on jumping power (group * time interaction of the rmANOVA p < 0.001; iAG - 25%, cAG - 26%, CTRL - 33%), plantar flexion strength (group * time p = 0.003; iAG - 35%, cAG - 31%, CTRL - 48%) and plantar flexion RFD (group * time p = 0.020; iAG - 28%, cAG - 12%, CTRL - 40%). Women showed more pronounced losses than men in jumping power (p < 0.001) and knee extension strength (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION The AG protocols were not suitable to maintain aerobic exercise capacity, probably due to the very low cardiorespiratory demand of this intervention. However, they mitigated some losses in muscle function, potentially due to the low-intensity muscle contractions during centrifugation used to avoid presyncope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kramer
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - María Venegas-Carro
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jochen Zange
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Wolfram Sies
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Markus Gruber
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Hans Degens
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.,Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - María Moreno-Villanueva
- Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Edwin Mulder
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
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28
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Mohanadass CA, Church LE. Response to "Measuring the Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter with Ultrasound in Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke Patients": For Application to Long-Duration Spaceflight (LDSF). J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:105619. [PMID: 33483234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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29
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Davis CM, Allen AR, Bowles DE. Consequences of space radiation on the brain and cardiovascular system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2021; 39:180-218. [PMID: 33902387 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2021.1891825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Staying longer in outer space will inevitably increase the health risks of astronauts due to the exposures to galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events. Exposure may pose a significant hazard to space flight crews not only during the mission but also later, when slow-developing adverse effects could finally become apparent. The body of literature examining ground-based outcomes in response to high-energy charged-particle radiation suggests differential effects in response to different particles and energies. Numerous animal and cellular models have repeatedly demonstrated the negative effects of high-energy charged-particle on the brain and cognitive function. However, research on the role of space radiation in potentiating cardiovascular dysfunction is still in its early stages. This review summarizes the available data from studies using ground-based animal models to evaluate the response of the brain and heart to the high-energy charged particles of GCR and SPE, addresses potential sex differences in these effects, and aims to highlight gaps in the current literature for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Davis
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Dawn E Bowles
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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30
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Smith MG, Kelley M, Basner M. A brief history of spaceflight from 1961 to 2020: An analysis of missions and astronaut demographics. ACTA ASTRONAUTICA 2020; 175:290-299. [PMID: 32801403 PMCID: PMC7422727 DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Human spaceflight and the characteristics of people who become astronauts have changed over time. Here we present an analysis of n=1,265 manned spaceflights by n=562 astronauts from 1961-2020 to investigate historical trends over time and between space agencies in terms of astronaut demographics and spaceflight duration. Generalized linear models and generalized linear mixed models were implemented with adjustments for all available demographic data as covariates. Women continue to be underrepresented as astronauts, and were younger, had fewer children, and were less likely to have a military background than their male counterparts. Astronaut age has increased over time, although this increase was significant only for first-time spaceflights. The proportion of astronauts from civilian backgrounds has generally increased over time, although there is evidence this trend may be reversing. Spaceflight duration has increased over time, and has been longest for ROSCOSMOS cosmonauts and shortest for Chinese taikonauts. There were also differences between space agencies in terms of astronaut demographics, particularly between NASA and ROSCOSMOS, with first-time NASA astronauts more likely to be women, civilian and older than first-time ROSCOSMOS cosmonauts. As humankind embarks on exploration-class missions back to the lunar surface and then onward to Mars, and with new nations and commercial entities entering the international space community, the nature of spaceflight, and the diversity of the astronauts, will continue to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Smith
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Michelle Kelley
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mathias Basner
- Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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31
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Scott JPR, Green DA, Weerts G, Cheuvront SN. Body size and its implications upon resource utilization during human space exploration missions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13836. [PMID: 32796944 PMCID: PMC7429865 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this theoretical study was to estimate the effects of body size and countermeasure (CM) exercise in an all-male crew composed of individuals drawn from a height range representative of current space agency requirements upon total energy expenditure (TEE), oxygen (O2) consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) and metabolic heat (Hprod) production, and water requirements for hydration, during space exploration missions. Using a height range of 1.50- to 1.90-m, and assuming geometric similarity across this range, estimates were derived for a four-person male crew (age: 40-years; BMI: 26.5-kg/m2; resting VO2 and VO2max: 3.3- and 43.4-mL/kg/min) on 30- to 1,080-d missions, without and with, ISS-like CM exercise (modelled as 2 × 30-min aerobic exercise at 75% VO2max, 6-d/week). Where spaceflight-specific data/equations were not available, terrestrial data/equations were used. Body size alone increased 24-h TEE (+ 44%), O2 consumption (+ 60%), CO2 (+ 60%) and Hprod (+ 60%) production, and water requirements (+ 19%). With CM exercise, the increases were + 29 to 32%, + 31%, + 35%, + 42% and + 23 to 33% respectively, across the height range. Compared with a 'small-sized' (1.50-m) crew without CM exercise, a 'large-sized' (1.90-m) crew exercising would require an additional 996-MJ of energy, 52.5 × 103-L of O2 and 183.6-L of water, and produce an additional 44.0 × 103-L of CO2 and 874-MJ of heat each month. This study provides the first insight into the potential implications of body size and the use of ISS-like CM exercise upon the provision of life-support during exploration missions. Whilst closed-loop life-support (O2, water and CO2) systems may be possible, strategies to minimize and meet crew metabolic energy needs, estimated in this study to increase by 996-MJ per month with body size and CM exercise, are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P R Scott
- KBR, 511147, Cologne, Germany.
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, 51147, Cologne, Germany.
| | - David A Green
- KBR, 511147, Cologne, Germany
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, 51147, Cologne, Germany
- Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Guillaume Weerts
- Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency, 51147, Cologne, Germany
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32
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McGregor AJ. Gender Inequity in Academic Medicine: A Visible Sign of a Disseminated Disease. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2020; 29:137-138. [DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2019.8152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alyson J. McGregor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Women's Health in Emergency Care Program, Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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33
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Strewe C, Moser D, Buchheim JI, Gunga HC, Stahn A, Crucian BE, Fiedel B, Bauer H, Gössmann-Lang P, Thieme D, Kohlberg E, Choukèr A, Feuerecker M. Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica. Biol Sex Differ 2019; 10:20. [PMID: 30992051 PMCID: PMC6469129 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-019-0231-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antarctica challenges human explorers by its extreme environment. The effects of these unique conditions on the human physiology need to be understood to best mitigate health problems in Antarctic expedition crews. Moreover, Antarctica is an adequate Earth-bound analogue for long-term space missions. To date, its effects on human physiology have been studied mainly in male cohorts though more female expeditioners and applicants in astronaut training programs are selected. Therefore, the identification of sex differences in stress and immune reactions are becoming an even more essential aim to provide a more individualized risk management. Methods Ten female and 16 male subjects participated in three 1-year expeditions to the German Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were taken 1–2 months prior to departure, subsequently every month during their expedition, and 3–4 months after return from Antarctica. Analyses included cortisol, catecholamine and endocannabinoid measurements; psychological evaluation; differential blood count; and recall antigen- and mitogen-stimulated cytokine profiles. Results Cortisol showed significantly higher concentrations in females than males during winter whereas no enhanced psychological stress was detected in both sexes. Catecholamine excretion was higher in males than females but never showed significant increases compared to baseline. Endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamides increased significantly in both sexes and stayed consistently elevated during the confinement. Cytokine profiles after in vitro stimulation revealed no sex differences but resulted in significant time-dependent changes. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher in males than females, and hemoglobin increased significantly in both sexes compared to baseline. Platelet counts were significantly higher in females than males. Leukocytes and granulocyte concentrations increased during confinement with a dip for both sexes in winter whereas lymphocytes were significantly elevated in both sexes during the confinement. Conclusions The extreme environment of Antarctica seems to trigger some distinct stress and immune responses but—with the exception of cortisol and blood cell counts—without any major relevant sex-specific differences. Stated sex differences were shown to be independent of enhanced psychological stress and seem to be related to the environmental conditions. However, sources and consequences of these sex differences have to be further elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Strewe
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - D Moser
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - J-I Buchheim
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - H-C Gunga
- Institut für Physiologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Stahn
- Institut für Physiologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - B E Crucian
- NASA - Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - B Fiedel
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - H Bauer
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - P Gössmann-Lang
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - D Thieme
- Institute of Doping Analysis und Sports Biochemistry, Kreischa, Germany
| | - E Kohlberg
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - A Choukèr
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - M Feuerecker
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
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34
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Timoshenko GN, Belvedersky MI. Fluence-to-effective dose conversion coefficients for male astronauts. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2019; 39:511-521. [PMID: 30990211 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ab0583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The problem of the reliable estimation of astronauts' radiation exposure doses in deep space is very important and relevant in connection with the accepted space research programmes. The effective dose value based on ICRP Publication 103 presents too conservative an estimate of an astronaut's radiation risk. A more realistic dose can be calculated on the basis of relationships between the radiation quality factor and linear energy transfer or linear energy or Z*2/β 2, according to the NASA concept. In addition, it is reasonable to use a set of tissue weighting coefficients (normalised relative detriments) that have been averaged over a cohort of working age males similar to the male astronaut cohort. The closest to the male astronauts is the NASA cohort of males aged 30-60 years who have never smoked. The fluence-to-effective dose equivalent conversion coefficients calculated specially for male astronauts are compared. Different approaches to radiation risk estimation for astronauts are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G N Timoshenko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia. Dubna State University, 141980, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia
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35
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Oxidative Stress as Cause, Consequence, or Biomarker of Altered Female Reproduction and Development in the Space Environment. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123729. [PMID: 30477143 PMCID: PMC6320872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous terrestrial disease processes and associated with morbidity following spaceflight. Furthermore, oxidative stress has long been considered a causative agent in adverse reproductive outcomes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathogenesis of oxidative stress caused by cosmic radiation and microgravity, review the relationship between oxidative stress and reproductive outcomes in females, and explore what role spaceflight-induced oxidative damage may have on female reproductive and developmental outcomes.
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36
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Evans JM, Knapp CF, Goswami N. Artificial Gravity as a Countermeasure to the Cardiovascular Deconditioning of Spaceflight: Gender Perspectives. Front Physiol 2018; 9:716. [PMID: 30034341 PMCID: PMC6043777 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Space flight-induced physiological deconditioning resulting from decreased gravitational input, decreased plasma volume, and disruption of regulatory mechanisms is a significant problem in returning astronauts as well as in normal aging. Here we review effects of a promising countermeasure on cardiovascular systems of healthy men and women undergoing Earth-based models of space-flight. This countermeasure is produced by a centrifuge and called artificial gravity (AG). Numerous studies have determined that AG improves orthostatic tolerance (as assessed by various protocols) of healthy ambulatory men, of men deconditioned by bed rest or by immersion (both wet and dry) and, in one case, following spaceflight. Although a few studies of healthy, ambulatory women and one study of women deconditioned by furosemide, have reported improvement of orthostatic tolerance following exposure to AG, studies of bed-rested women exposed to AG have not been conducted. However, in ambulatory, normovolemic subjects, AG training was more effective in men than women and more effective in subjects who exercised during AG than in those who passively rode the centrifuge. Acute exposure to an AG protocol, individualized to provide a common stimulus to each person, also improved orthostatic tolerance of normovolemic men and women and of furosemide-deconditioned men and women. Again, men's tolerance was more improved than women's. In both men and women, exposure to AG increased stroke volume, so greater improvement in men vs. women was due in part to their different vascular responses to AG. Following AG exposure, resting blood pressure (via decreased vascular resistance) decreased in men but not women, indicating an increase in men's vascular reserve. Finally, in addition to counteracting space flight deconditioning, improved orthostatic tolerance through AG-induced improvement of stroke volume could benefit aging men and women on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce M. Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Charles F. Knapp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Nandu Goswami
- Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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37
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Huxley VH, Kemp SS. Sex-Specific Characteristics of the Microcirculation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1065:307-328. [PMID: 30051393 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77932-4_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The requirements of metabolizing tissue are both continuous and variable; accordingly, the microvasculature serving that tissue must be similarly dynamic. Just as it is recognized that males and females of the same species have differing metabolic requirements, is it not likely that the microvasculature serving these tissues will differ by sex? This section focusing on the constituents of the microcirculation identifies what is known presently about the role sex plays in matching metabolic demand with microvascular function and areas requiring additional study. Many of the identified sex differences are subtle and easily ignored. In the aggregate, though, they can profoundly alter phenotype, especially under stressful conditions including pregnancy, exercise, and disease states ranging from diabetes to heart failure. Although the features presently identified to "have sex" range from differences in growth, morphology, protein expression, and intracellular signaling, males and females alike achieve homeostasis, likely by different means. Studies of microvascular sexual dimorphism are also identifying age as an independent but interacting factor requiring additional attention. Overall, attempting to ignore either sex and/or age is inappropriate and will prevent the design and implementation of appropriate interventions to present, ameliorate, or correct microvascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia H Huxley
- Center for Gender Physiology, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Scott S Kemp
- Center for Gender Physiology, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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38
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Cassady K, Ruitenberg M, Koppelmans V, Reuter-Lorenz P, De Dios Y, Gadd N, Wood S, Riascos Castenada R, Kofman I, Bloomberg J, Mulavara A, Seidler R. Neural predictors of sensorimotor adaptation rate and savings. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 39:1516-1531. [PMID: 29274105 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigate whether individual variability in the rate of visuomotor adaptation and multiday savings is associated with differences in regional gray matter volume and resting-state functional connectivity. Thirty-four participants performed a manual adaptation task during two separate test sessions, on average 9 days apart. Functional connectivity strength between sensorimotor, dorsal cingulate, and temporoparietal regions of the brain was found to predict the rate of learning during the early phase of the adaptation task. In contrast, default mode network connectivity strength was found to predict both the rate of learning during the late adaptation phase and savings. As for structural predictors, greater gray matter volume in temporoparietal and occipital regions predicted faster early learning, whereas greater gray matter volume in superior posterior regions of the cerebellum predicted faster late learning. These findings suggest that the offline neural predictors of early adaptation may facilitate the cognitive aspects of sensorimotor adaptation, supported by the involvement of temporoparietal and cingulate networks. The offline neural predictors of late adaptation and savings, including the default mode network and the cerebellum, likely support the storage and modification of newly acquired sensorimotor representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Cassady
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Marit Ruitenberg
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIichigan
| | | | | | - Yiri De Dios
- KBRwyle Science, Technology, and Engineering Group, Houston, Texas
| | - Nichole Gadd
- KBRwyle Science, Technology, and Engineering Group, Houston, Texas
| | - Scott Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Igor Kofman
- KBRwyle Science, Technology, and Engineering Group, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Rachael Seidler
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIichigan.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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39
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Booth FW, Roberts CK, Thyfault JP, Ruegsegger GN, Toedebusch RG. Role of Inactivity in Chronic Diseases: Evolutionary Insight and Pathophysiological Mechanisms. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:1351-1402. [PMID: 28814614 PMCID: PMC6347102 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review proposes that physical inactivity could be considered a behavior selected by evolution for resting, and also selected to be reinforcing in life-threatening situations in which exercise would be dangerous. Underlying the notion are human twin studies and animal selective breeding studies, both of which provide indirect evidence for the existence of genes for physical inactivity. Approximately 86% of the 325 million in the United States (U.S.) population achieve less than the U.S. Government and World Health Organization guidelines for daily physical activity for health. Although underappreciated, physical inactivity is an actual contributing cause to at least 35 unhealthy conditions, including the majority of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. First, we introduce nine physical inactivity-related themes. Next, characteristics and models of physical inactivity are presented. Following next are individual examples of phenotypes, organ systems, and diseases that are impacted by physical inactivity, including behavior, central nervous system, cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolism, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, bone, immunity, digestion, and cancer. Importantly, physical inactivity, itself, often plays an independent role as a direct cause of speeding the losses of cardiovascular and strength fitness, shortening of healthspan, and lowering of the age for the onset of the first chronic disease, which in turn decreases quality of life, increases health care costs, and accelerates mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank W Booth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Christian K Roberts
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Gregory N Ruegsegger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Ryan G Toedebusch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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40
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Anderson AP, Babu G, Swan JG, Phillips SD, Knaus DA, Toutain-Kidd CM, Zegans ME, Fellows AM, Gui J, Buckey JC. Ocular changes over 60 min in supine and prone postures. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2017; 123:415-423. [PMID: 28546470 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00687.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Some astronauts are returning from long-duration spaceflight with structural ocular and visual changes. We investigated both the transient and sustained effects of changes in the direction of the gravity vector acting on the eye using changes in body posture. Intraocular pressure (IOP; measured by Perkins tonometer), ocular geometry (axial length, corneal thickness, and aqueous depth-noncontact biometer), and the choroid (volume and subfoveal thickness optical coherence tomography) were measured in 10 subjects (5 males and 5 females). Measures were taken over the course of 60 min and analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of covariance to assess the effects of posture and time. In the supine position, choroidal volume increased significantly with time (average value at <5 min = 8.8 ± 2.3 mm3, 60 min = 9.0 ± 2.4 mm3, P = 0.03). In the prone position, IOP and axial length increased with time (IOP at <5 min 15 ± 2.7 mmHg, 60 min = 19.8 ± 4.1 mmHg, P < 0.0001; axial length at <5 min = 24.29 ± 0.77 mm, 60 min = 24.31 ± 0.76 mm, P = 0.002). Each increased exponentially, with time constants of 5.3 and 14 min, respectively. Prone corneal thickness also increased with time (<5 min = 528 ± 35 μm, 60 min = 537 ± 35 μm3, P < 0.001). Aqueous depth was shortened in the prone position (baseline = 3.22 ± 0.31 mm, 60 min = 3.18 ± 0.32 mm, P < 0.0001) but did not change with time. The data show that changes in the gravity vector have pronounced transient and sustained effects on the geometry and physiology of the eye.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that gravity has pronounced transient and sustained effects on the eye by making detailed ocular measurements over 60 min in the supine and prone postures. These data inform our understanding of how gravitational forces can affect ocular structures, which is essential for hypothesizing how ocular changes could occur with microgravity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gautam Babu
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; and
| | - Jacob G Swan
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | | | | | | | - Michael E Zegans
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Abigail M Fellows
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Jiang Gui
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Jay C Buckey
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire;
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41
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Van Ombergen A, Laureys S, Sunaert S, Tomilovskaya E, Parizel PM, Wuyts FL. Spaceflight-induced neuroplasticity in humans as measured by MRI: what do we know so far? NPJ Microgravity 2017. [PMID: 28649624 PMCID: PMC5445591 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-016-0010-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel poses an enormous challenge on the human body; microgravity, ionizing radiation, absence of circadian rhythm, confinement and isolation are just some of the features associated with it. Obviously, all of the latter can have an impact on human physiology and even induce detrimental changes. Some organ systems have been studied thoroughly under space conditions, however, not much is known on the functional and morphological effects of spaceflight on the human central nervous system. Previous studies have already shown that central nervous system changes occur during and after spaceflight in the form of neurovestibular problems, alterations in cognitive function and sensory perception, cephalic fluid shifts and psychological disturbances. However, little is known about the underlying neural substrates. In this review, we discuss the current limited knowledge on neuroplastic changes in the human central nervous system associated with spaceflight (actual or simulated) as measured by magnetic resonance imaging-based techniques. Furthermore, we discuss these findings as well as their future perspectives, since this can encourage future research into this delicate and intriguing aspect of spaceflight. Currently, the literature suffers from heterogeneous experimental set-ups and therefore, the lack of comparability of findings among studies. However, the cerebellum, cortical sensorimotor and somatosensory areas and vestibular-related pathways seem to be involved across different studies, suggesting that these brain regions are most affected by (simulated) spaceflight. Extending this knowledge is crucial, especially with the eye on long-duration interplanetary missions (e.g. Mars) and space tourism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelique Van Ombergen
- Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020 Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk (Antwerp), 2610 Belgium.,Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020 Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Research & Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Department of Imaging & Pathology, Translational MRI, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Tomilovskaya
- SSC RF-Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Paul M Parizel
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Floris L Wuyts
- Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020 Belgium.,Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020 Belgium
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42
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Zhang H, Ren NT, Zhou FQ, Li J, Lei W, Liu N, Bi L, Wu ZX, Zhang R, Zhang YG, Cui G. Effects of Hindlimb Unweighting on MBP and GDNF Expression and Morphology in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:2433-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1956-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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43
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Urbaniak C, Reid G. The potential influence of the microbiota and probiotics on women during long spaceflights. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 12:193-8. [PMID: 26901697 DOI: 10.2217/whe.15.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Humans have been exploring space for almost 55 years but space travel comes with many psychological and physiological changes that astronauts have to adapt to, both during and post flight missions. Now, with the reality of such missions lasting years, maintaining proper health of the flight crew is a high priority. While conditions such as nausea, bone loss, renal calculi and depression have been recognized, and approaches to medical and surgical care in space considered, the influence of the microbiota could be of added significance in maintaining astronaut health. While probiotics have long been part of the Russian cosmonaut diet, their use for specific health concerns of women has not been assessed. In this article, we explore the ways in which the microbiome may influence the health of female astronauts during long space flights, and present a rationale for the use of probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Urbaniak
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Gregor Reid
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
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Moskaleva N, Moysa A, Novikova S, Tikhonova O, Zgoda V, Archakov A. Spaceflight Effects on Cytochrome P450 Content in Mouse Liver. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142374. [PMID: 26561010 PMCID: PMC4641588 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard conditions of long-term manned spaceflight can affect functions of many biological systems including a system of drug metabolism. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily plays a key role in the drug metabolism. In this study we examined the hepatic content of some P450 isoforms in mice exposed to 30 days of space flight and microgravity. The CYP content was established by the mass-spectrometric method of selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Significant changes in the CYP2C29, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 contents were detected in mice of the flight group compared to the ground control group. Within seven days after landing and corresponding recovery period changes in the content of CYP2C29 and CYP1A2 returned to the control level, while the CYP2E1 level remained elevated. The induction of enzyme observed in the mice in the conditions of the spaceflight could lead to an accelerated biotransformation and change in efficiency of pharmacological agents, metabolizing by corresponding CYP isoforms. Such possibility of an individual pharmacological response to medication during long-term spaceflights and early period of postflight adaptation should be taken into account in space medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Victor Zgoda
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail:
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