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Britten RA, Fesshaye A, Tidmore A, Liu A, Blackwell AA. Loss of Cognitive Flexibility Practice Effects in Female Rats Exposed to Simulated Space Radiation. Radiat Res 2023; 200:256-265. [PMID: 37527363 DOI: 10.1667/rade-22-00196.1] [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: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
During the planned missions to Mars, astronauts will be faced with many potential health hazards including prolonged exposure to space radiation. Ground-based studies have shown that exposure to space radiation impairs the performance of male rats in cognitive flexibility tasks which involve processes that are essential to rapidly and efficiently adapting to different situations. However, there is presently a paucity of information on the effects of space radiation on cognitive flexibility in female rodents. This study has determined the impact that exposure to a low (10 cGy) dose of ions from the simplified 5-ion galactic cosmic ray simulation [https://www.bnl.gov/nsrl/userguide/SimGCRSim.php (07/2023)] (GCRSim) beam or 250 MeV/n 4He ions has on the ability of female Wistar rats to perform in constrained [attentional set shifting (ATSET)] and unconstrained cognitive flexibility (UCFlex) tasks. Female rats exposed to GCRSim exhibited multiple decrements in ATSET performance. Firstly, GCRSim exposure impaired performance in the compound discrimination (CD) stage of the ATSET task. While the ability of rats to identify the rewarded cue was not compromised, the time the rats required to do so significantly increased. Secondly, both 4He and GCRSim exposure reduced the ability of rats to reach criterion in the compound discrimination reversal (CDR) stage. Approximately 20% of the irradiated rats were unable to complete the CDR task; furthermore, the irradiated rats that did reach criterion took more attempts to do so than did the sham-treated animals. Radiation exposure also altered the magnitude and/or nature of practice effects. A comparison of performance metrics from the pre-screen and post-exposure ATSET task revealed that while the sham-treated rats completed the post-exposure CD stage of the ATSET task in 30% less time than for completion of the pre-screen ATSET task, the irradiated rats took 30-50% longer to do so. Similarly, while sham-treated rats completed the CDR stage in ∼10% fewer attempts in the post-exposure task compared to the pre-screen task, in contrast, the 4He- and GCRSim-exposed cohorts took more (∼2-fold) attempts to reach criterion in the post-exposure task than in the pre-screen task. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that female rats are susceptible to radiation-induced loss of performance in the constrained ATSET cognitive flexibility task. Moreover, exposure to radiation leads to multiple performance decrements, including loss of practice effects, an increase in anterograde interference and reduced ability or unwillingness to switch attention. Should similar effects occur in humans, astronauts may have a compromised ability to perform complex tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Britten
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
- EVMS Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Arriyam Fesshaye
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Alyssa Tidmore
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Aiyi Liu
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Ashley A Blackwell
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
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2
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Britten RA, Limoli CL. New Radiobiological Principles for the CNS Arising from Space Radiation Research. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1293. [PMID: 37374076 DOI: 10.3390/life13061293] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, the brain has been regarded as a relatively insensitive late-reacting tissue, with radiologically detectable damage not being reported at doses < 60 Gy. When NASA proposed interplanetary exploration missions, it was required to conduct an intensive health and safety evaluation of cancer, cardiovascular, and cognitive risks associated with exposure to deep space radiation (SR). The SR dose that astronauts on a mission to Mars are predicted to receive is ~300 mGy. Even after correcting for the higher RBE of the SR particles, the biologically effective SR dose (<1 Gy) would still be 60-fold lower than the threshold dose for clinically detectable neurological damage. Unexpectedly, the NASA-funded research program has consistently reported that low (<250 mGy) doses of SR induce deficits in multiple cognitive functions. This review will discuss these findings and the radical paradigm shifts in radiobiological principles for the brain that were required in light of these findings. These included a shift from cell killing to loss of function models, an expansion of the critical brain regions for radiation-induced cognitive impediments, and the concept that the neuron may not be the sole critical target for neurocognitive impairment. The accrued information on how SR exposure impacts neurocognitive performance may provide new opportunities to reduce neurocognitive impairment in brain cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Britten
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department Radiation Oncology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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3
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Stephenson S, Liu A, Blackwell AA, Britten RA. Multiple decrements in switch task performance in female rats exposed to space radiation. Behav Brain Res 2023; 449:114465. [PMID: 37142163 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114465] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Astronauts on the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars will be exposed to unavoidable Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR). Studies using male rats suggest that GCR exposure impairs several processes required for cognitive flexibility performance, including attention and task switching. Currently no comparable studies have been conducted with female rats. Given that both males and females will travel into deep space, this study determined whether simulated GCR (GCRsim) exposure impairs task switching performance in female rats. Female Wistar rats exposed to 10cGy GCRsim (n = 12) and shams (n=14) were trained to perform a touchscreen-based switch task that mimics a switch task used to evaluate pilots' response times. In comparison to sham rats, three-fold more GCRsim-exposed rats failed to complete the stimulus response stage of training, a high cognitive loading task. In the switch task, 50% of the GCRsim-exposed rats failed to consistently transition between the repeated and switch blocks of stimuli, which they completed during lower cognitive loading training stages. The GCRsim-exposed rats that completed the switch task only performed at 65% of the accuracy of shams. Female rats exposed to GCRsim thus exhibit multiple decrements in the switch task under high, but not low, cognitive loading conditions. While the operational significance of this performance decrement is unknown, if GCRSim exposure was to induce similar effects in astronauts, our data suggests there may be a reduced ability to execute task switching under high cognitive loading situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Stephenson
- School of Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA
| | - Aiyi Liu
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA
| | - Ashley A Blackwell
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA
| | - Richard A Britten
- EVMS Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507 USA.
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4
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Laiakis EC, Pinheiro M, Nguyen T, Nguyen H, Beheshti A, Dutta SM, Russell WK, Emmett MR, Britten RA. Quantitative proteomic analytic approaches to identify metabolic changes in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to space radiation. Front Physiol 2022; 13:971282. [PMID: 36091373 PMCID: PMC9459391 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.971282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NASA’s planned mission to Mars will result in astronauts being exposed to ∼350 mSv/yr of Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR). A growing body of data from ground-based experiments indicates that exposure to space radiation doses (approximating those that astronauts will be exposed to on a mission to Mars) impairs a variety of cognitive processes, including cognitive flexibility tasks. Some studies report that 33% of individuals may experience severe cognitive impairment. Translating the results from ground-based rodent studies into tangible risk estimates for astronauts is an enormous challenge, but it would be germane for NASA to use the vast body of data from the rodent studies to start developing appropriate countermeasures, in the expectation that some level of space radiation (SR) -induced cognitive impairment could occur in astronauts. While some targeted studies have reported radiation-induced changes in the neurotransmission properties and/or increased neuroinflammation within space radiation exposed brains, there remains little information that can be used to start the development of a mechanism-based countermeasure strategy. In this study, we have employed a robust label-free mass spectrometry (MS) -based untargeted quantitative proteomic profiling approach to characterize the composition of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) proteome in rats that have been exposed to 15 cGy of 600 MeV/n28Si ions. A variety of analytical techniques were used to mine the generated expression data, which in such studies is typically hampered by low and variable sample size. We have identified several pathways and proteins whose expression alters as a result of space radiation exposure, including decreased mitochondrial function, and a further subset of proteins differs in rats that have a high level of cognitive performance after SR exposure in comparison with those that have low performance levels. While this study has provided further insight into how SR impacts upon neurophysiology, and what adaptive responses can be invoked to prevent the emergence of SR-induced cognitive impairment, the main objective of this paper is to outline strategies that can be used by others to analyze sub-optimal data sets and to identify new information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evagelia C. Laiakis
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
- *Correspondence: Evagelia C. Laiakis,
| | - Maisa Pinheiro
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Tin Nguyen
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Hung Nguyen
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Afshin Beheshti
- KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA, United States
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sucharita M. Dutta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - William K. Russell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Mark R. Emmett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Richard A. Britten
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
- Center for Integrative Neuroinflammatory and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
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5
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Ton ST, Laghi JR, Tsai SY, Blackwell AA, Adamczyk NS, Oltmanns JRO, Britten RA, Wallace DG, Kartje GL. Exposure to 5 cGy 28Si Particles Induces Long-Term Microglial Activation in the Striatum and Subventricular Zone and Concomitant Neurogenic Suppression. Radiat Res 2022; 198:28-39. [DOI: 10.1667/rade-21-00021.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The proposed mission to Mars will expose astronauts to space radiation that is known to adversely affect cognition and tasks that rely on fine sensorimotor function. Space radiation has also been shown to affect the microglial and neurogenic responses in the center nervous system (CNS). We recently reported that a low dose of 5 cGy 600 MeV/n 28Si results in impaired cognition and skilled motor behavior in adult rats. Since these tasks rely at least in part on the proper functioning of the striatum, we examined striatal microglial cells in these same subjects. Using morphometric analysis, we found that 28Si exposure increased activated microglial cells in the striatum. The majority of these striatal Iba1+ microglia were ED1–, indicating that they were in an alternatively activated state, where microglia do not have phagocytic activity but may be releasing cytokines that could negatively impact neuronal function. In the other areas studied, Iba1+ microglial cells were increased in the subventricular zone (SVZ), but not in the dentate gyrus (DG). Additionally, we examined the relationship between the microglial response and neurogenesis. An analysis of new neurons in the DG revealed an increase in doublecortin-positive (DCX+) hilar ectopic granule cells (hEGC) which correlated with Iba1+ cells, suggesting that microglial cells contributed to this aberrant distribution which may adversely affect hippocampal function. Taken together, these results indicate that a single dose of 28Si radiation results in persistent cellular effects in the CNS that may impact astronauts both in the short and long-term following deep space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Son T. Ton
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois
| | - Julia R. Laghi
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois
| | - Shih-Yen Tsai
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois
| | | | | | | | - Richard A. Britten
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Douglas G. Wallace
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
| | - Gwendolyn L. Kartje
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, Illinois
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6
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Mhatre SD, Iyer J, Puukila S, Paul AM, Tahimic CGT, Rubinstein L, Lowe M, Alwood JS, Sowa MB, Bhattacharya S, Globus RK, Ronca AE. Neuro-consequences of the spaceflight environment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:908-935. [PMID: 34767877 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
As human space exploration advances to establish a permanent presence beyond the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with NASA's Artemis mission, researchers are striving to understand and address the health challenges of living and working in the spaceflight environment. Exposure to ionizing radiation, microgravity, isolation and other spaceflight hazards pose significant risks to astronauts. Determining neurobiological and neurobehavioral responses, understanding physiological responses under Central Nervous System (CNS) control, and identifying putative mechanisms to inform countermeasure development are critically important to ensuring brain and behavioral health of crew on long duration missions. Here we provide a detailed and comprehensive review of the effects of spaceflight and of ground-based spaceflight analogs, including simulated weightlessness, social isolation, and ionizing radiation on humans and animals. Further, we discuss dietary and non-dietary countermeasures including artificial gravity and antioxidants, among others. Significant future work is needed to ensure that neural, sensorimotor, cognitive and other physiological functions are maintained during extended deep space missions to avoid potentially catastrophic health and safety outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhita D Mhatre
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; KBR, Houston, TX, 77002, USA; COSMIAC Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, 21046, USA
| | - Stephanie Puukila
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, 21046, USA; Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Amber M Paul
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, 21046, USA
| | - Candice G T Tahimic
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; KBR, Houston, TX, 77002, USA; Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Linda Rubinstein
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, 21046, USA
| | - Moniece Lowe
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA; Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98154, USA
| | - Joshua S Alwood
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Marianne B Sowa
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Sharmila Bhattacharya
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Ruth K Globus
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - April E Ronca
- 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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Chronic Low Dose Neutron Exposure Results in Altered Neurotransmission Properties of the Hippocampus-Prefrontal Cortex Axis in Both Mice and Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073668. [PMID: 33915974 PMCID: PMC8036585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The proposed deep space exploration to the moon and later to Mars will result in astronauts receiving significant chronic exposures to space radiation (SR). SR exposure results in multiple neurocognitive impairments. Recently, our cross-species (mouse/rat) studies reported impaired associative memory formation in both species following a chronic 6-month low dose exposure to a mixed field of neutrons (1 mGy/day for a total dose pf 18 cGy). In the present study, we report neutron exposure induced synaptic plasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex, accompanied by microglial activation and significant synaptic loss in the hippocampus. In a parallel study, neutron exposure was also found to alter fluorescence assisted single synaptosome LTP (FASS-LTP) in the hippocampus of rats, that may be related to a reduced ability to insert AMPAR into the post-synaptic membrane, which may arise from increased phosphorylation of the serine 845 residue of the GluA1 subunit. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time, that low dose chronic neutron irradiation impacts homeostatic synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal-cortical circuit in two rodent species, and that the ability to successfully encode associative recognition memory is a dynamic, multicircuit process, possibly involving compensatory changes in AMPAR density on the synaptic surface.
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8
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Britten RA, Wellman LL, Sanford LD. Progressive increase in the complexity and translatability of rodent testing to assess space-radiation induced cognitive impairment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:159-174. [PMID: 33766676 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ground-based rodent models have established that space radiation doses (approximately those that astronauts will be exposed to on a mission to Mars) significantly impair performance in a wide range of cognitive tasks. Over the last 40 years there has been a progressive increase in both the complexity and the translatability (to humans) of the cognitive tasks investigated. This review outlines technical and conceptual advances in space radiation rodent testing approaches, along with the advances in analytical approaches, that will make data from ground based studies more amenable to probabilistic risk analysis. While great progress has been made in determining the impact of space radiation on many advanced cognitive processes, challenges remain that need to be addressed prior to commencing deep space missions. A summary of on-going attempts to address existing knowledge gaps and the critical role that rodent studies will have in establishing the impact of space radiation on even more complex (human) cognitive tasks are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Britten
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA; Leroy T Canoles Jr. Cancer Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA; Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA.
| | - Laurie L Wellman
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA
| | - Larry D Sanford
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA
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9
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Willey JS, Britten RA, Blaber E, Tahimic CG, Chancellor J, Mortreux M, Sanford LD, Kubik AJ, Delp MD, Mao XW. The individual and combined effects of spaceflight radiation and microgravity on biologic systems and functional outcomes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2021; 39:129-179. [PMID: 33902391 PMCID: PMC8274610 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2021.1885283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Both microgravity and radiation exposure in the spaceflight environment have been identified as hazards to astronaut health and performance. Substantial study has been focused on understanding the biology and risks associated with prolonged exposure to microgravity, and the hazards presented by radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar particle events (SPEs) outside of low earth orbit (LEO). To date, the majority of the ground-based analogues (e.g., rodent or cell culture studies) that investigate the biology of and risks associated with spaceflight hazards will focus on an individual hazard in isolation. However, astronauts will face these challenges simultaneously Combined hazard studies are necessary for understanding the risks astronauts face as they travel outside of LEO, and are also critical for countermeasure development. The focus of this review is to describe biologic and functional outcomes from ground-based analogue models for microgravity and radiation, specifically highlighting the combined effects of radiation and reduced weight-bearing from rodent ground-based tail suspension via hind limb unloading (HLU) and partial weight-bearing (PWB) models, although in vitro and spaceflight results are discussed as appropriate. The review focuses on the skeletal, ocular, central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular, and stem cells responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
| | | | | | - Marie Mortreux
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
| | - Larry D. Sanford
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Angela J. Kubik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
| | - Michael D. Delp
- Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University
| | - Xiao Wen Mao
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences (BMES), Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University
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10
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Britten RA, Fesshaye AS, Duncan VD, Wellman LL, Sanford LD. Sleep Fragmentation Exacerbates Executive Function Impairments Induced by Low Doses of Si Ions. Radiat Res 2020; 194:116-123. [PMID: 32845991 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00080.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Astronauts on deep space missions will be required to work autonomously and thus their ability to perform executive functions could be critical to mission success. Ground-based rodent experiments have shown that low (<25 cGy) doses of several space radiation (SR) ions impair various aspects of executive function. Translating ground-based rodent studies into tangible risk estimates for astronauts remains an enormous challenge, but should similar neurocognitive impairments occur in astronauts exposed to low-SR doses, a Numbers-Needed-to-Harm analysis (of the rodent data) predicts that approximately 30% of the astronauts could develop severe cognitive flexibility decrements. In addition to the health risks associated with SR exposure, astronauts have to contend with other stressors, of which inadequate sleep quantity and quality are considered to be major concerns. We have shown that a single session of fragmented sleep uncovered latent attentional set-shifting (ATSET) performance deficits in rats exposed to protracted neutron radiation that had no obvious defects in performance under rested wakefulness conditions. It is unclear if the exacerbating effect of sleep fragmentation (SF) only occurs in rats receiving protracted low-dose-rate-neutron radiation. In this study, we assessed whether SF also unmasks latent ATSET deficits in rats exposed to 5 cGy 600 MeV/n 28Si ions. Only sham and Si-irradiated rats that had good ATSET performance (passing every stage of the test on their first attempt) were selected for study. Sleep fragmentation selectively impaired performance in the more complex IDR, EDS and EDR stages of the ATSET test in the Si-irradiated rats. Set-shifting performance has rarely been affected by SR exposure in our studies conducted with rats tested under rested wakefulness conditions. The consistent SF-related unmasking of latent set-shifting deficits in both Si- and neutron-irradiated rats suggests that there is a unique interaction between sleep fragmentation and space radiation on the functionality of the brain regions that regulate performance in the IDR, EDS and EDR stages of ATSET. The uncovering of these latent SR-induced ATSET performance deficits in both Si- and neutron-irradiated rats suggests that the true impact of SR-induced cognitive impairment may not be fully evident in normally rested rats, and thus cognitive testing needs to be conducted under both rested wakefulness and sleep fragmentation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Britten
- Departments of a Radiation Oncology.,Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases.,Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Center
| | | | | | - Laurie L Wellman
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases.,Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Larry D Sanford
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases.,Department of Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
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11
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Blackwell AA, Schell BD, Osterlund Oltmanns JR, Whishaw IQ, Ton ST, Adamczyk NS, Kartje GL, Britten RA, Wallace DG. Skilled movement and posture deficits in rat string-pulling behavior following low dose space radiation ( 28Si) exposure. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113010. [PMID: 33181183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Deep space flight missions beyond the Van Allen belt have the potential to expose astronauts to space radiation which may damage the central nervous system and impair function. The proposed mission to Mars will be the longest mission-to-date and identifying mission critical tasks that are sensitive to space radiation is important for developing and evaluating the efficacy of counter measures. Fine motor control has been assessed in humans, rats, and many other species using string-pulling behavior. For example, focal cortical damage has been previously shown to disrupt the topographic (i.e., path circuity) and kinematic (i.e., moment-to-moment speed) organization of rat string-pulling behavior count to compromise task accuracy. In the current study, rats were exposed to a ground-based model of simulated space radiation (5 cGy 28Silicon), and string-pulling behavior was used to assess fine motor control. Irradiated rats initially took longer to pull an unweighted string into a cage, exhibited impaired accuracy in grasping the string, and displayed postural deficits. Once rats were switched to a weighted string, some deficits lessened but postural instability remained. These results demonstrate that a single exposure to a low dose of space radiation disrupts skilled hand movements and posture, suggestive of neural impairment. This work establishes a foundation for future studies to investigate the neural structures and circuits involved in fine motor control and to examine the effectiveness of counter measures to attenuate the effects of space radiation on fine motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A Blackwell
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States.
| | - Brandi D Schell
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
| | | | - Ian Q Whishaw
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Son T Ton
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, United States; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL, 60153, United States
| | - Natalie S Adamczyk
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, United States
| | - Gwendolyn L Kartje
- Research Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, United States; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL, 60153, United States
| | - Richard A Britten
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 23507, United States
| | - Douglas G Wallace
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, United States
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12
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Pariset E, Malkani S, Cekanaviciute E, Costes SV. Ionizing radiation-induced risks to the central nervous system and countermeasures in cellular and rodent models. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 97:S132-S150. [PMID: 32946305 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1820598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Harmful effects of ionizing radiation on the Central Nervous System (CNS) are a concerning outcome in the field of cancer radiotherapy and form a major risk for deep space exploration. Both acute and chronic CNS irradiation induce a complex network of molecular and cellular alterations including DNA damage, oxidative stress, cell death and systemic inflammation, leading to changes in neuronal structure and synaptic plasticity with behavioral and cognitive consequences in animal models. Due to this complexity, countermeasure or therapeutic approaches to reduce the harmful effects of ionizing radiation include a wide range of protective and mitigative strategies, which merit a thorough comparative analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed current approaches for developing countermeasures to both targeted and non-targeted effects of ionizing radiation on the CNS from the molecular and cellular to the behavioral level. RESULTS We focus on countermeasures that aim to mitigate the four main detrimental actions of radiation on CNS: DNA damage, free radical formation and oxidative stress, cell death, and harmful systemic responses including tissue death and neuroinflammation. We propose a comprehensive review of CNS radiation countermeasures reported for the full range of irradiation types (photons and particles, low and high linear energy transfer) and doses (from a fraction of gray to several tens of gray, fractionated and unfractionated), with a particular interest for exposure conditions relevant to deep-space environment and radiotherapy. Our review reveals the importance of combined strategies that increase DNA protection and repair, reduce free radical formation and increase their elimination, limit inflammation and improve cell viability, limit tissue damage and increase repair and plasticity. CONCLUSIONS The majority of therapeutic approaches to protect the CNS from ionizing radiation have been limited to acute high dose and high dose rate gamma irradiation, and few are translatable from animal models to potential human application due to harmful side effects and lack of blood-brain barrier permeability that precludes peripheral administration. Therefore, a promising research direction would be to focus on practical applicability and effectiveness in a wider range of irradiation paradigms, from fractionated therapeutic to deep space radiation. In addition to discovering novel therapeutics, it would be worth maximizing the benefits and reducing side effects of those that already exist. Finally, we suggest that novel cellular and tissue models for developing and testing countermeasures in the context of other impairments might also be applied to the field of CNS responses to ionizing radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Pariset
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD, USA.,Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Sherina Malkani
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.,Young Scientist Program, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Egle Cekanaviciute
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Sylvain V Costes
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
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13
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Allen BD, Syage AR, Maroso M, Baddour AAD, Luong V, Minasyan H, Giedzinski E, West BL, Soltesz I, Limoli CL, Baulch JE, Acharya MM. Mitigation of helium irradiation-induced brain injury by microglia depletion. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:159. [PMID: 32429943 PMCID: PMC7236926 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01790-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cosmic radiation exposures have been found to elicit cognitive impairments involving a wide-range of underlying neuropathology including elevated oxidative stress, neural stem cell loss, and compromised neuronal architecture. Cognitive impairments have also been associated with sustained microglia activation following low dose exposure to helium ions. Space-relevant charged particles elicit neuroinflammation that persists long-term post-irradiation. Here, we investigated the potential neurocognitive benefits of microglia depletion following low dose whole body exposure to helium ions. Methods Adult mice were administered a dietary inhibitor (PLX5622) of colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) to deplete microglia 2 weeks after whole body helium irradiation (4He, 30 cGy, 400 MeV/n). Cohorts of mice maintained on a normal and PLX5622 diet were tested for cognitive function using seven independent behavioral tasks, microglial activation, hippocampal neuronal morphology, spine density, and electrophysiology properties 4–6 weeks later. Results PLX5622 treatment caused a rapid and near complete elimination of microglia in the brain within 3 days of treatment. Irradiated animals on normal diet exhibited a range of behavioral deficits involving the medial pre-frontal cortex and hippocampus and increased microglial activation. Animals on PLX5622 diet exhibited no radiation-induced cognitive deficits, and expression of resting and activated microglia were almost completely abolished, without any effects on the oligodendrocyte progenitors, throughout the brain. While PLX5622 treatment was found to attenuate radiation-induced increases in post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) puncta and to preserve mushroom type spine densities, other morphologic features of neurons and electrophysiologic measures of intrinsic excitability were relatively unaffected. Conclusions Our data suggest that microglia play a critical role in cosmic radiation-induced cognitive deficits in mice and, that approaches targeting microglial function are poised to provide considerable benefit to the brain exposed to charged particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barrett D Allen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amber R Syage
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mattia Maroso
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Al Anoud D Baddour
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Valerie Luong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Harutyun Minasyan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Erich Giedzinski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Janet E Baulch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Munjal M Acharya
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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14
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Clément GR, Boyle RD, George KA, Nelson GA, Reschke MF, Williams TJ, Paloski WH. Challenges to the central nervous system during human spaceflight missions to Mars. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:2037-2063. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00476.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel presents a number of environmental challenges to the central nervous system, including changes in gravitational acceleration that alter the terrestrial synergies between perception and action, galactic cosmic radiation that can damage sensitive neurons and structures, and multiple factors (isolation, confinement, altered atmosphere, and mission parameters, including distance from Earth) that can affect cognition and behavior. Travelers to Mars will be exposed to these environmental challenges for up to 3 years, and space-faring nations continue to direct vigorous research investments to help elucidate and mitigate the consequences of these long-duration exposures. This article reviews the findings of more than 50 years of space-related neuroscience research on humans and animals exposed to spaceflight or analogs of spaceflight environments, and projects the implications and the forward work necessary to ensure successful Mars missions. It also reviews fundamental neurophysiology responses that will help us understand and maintain human health and performance on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard D. Boyle
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | | | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Millard F. Reschke
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas J. Williams
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - William H. Paloski
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
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15
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Britten RA, Duncan VD, Fesshaye A, Rudobeck E, Nelson GA, Vlkolinsky R. Altered Cognitive Flexibility and Synaptic Plasticity in the Rat Prefrontal Cortex after Exposure to Low (≤15 cGy) Doses of 28Si Radiation. Radiat Res 2020; 193:223-235. [DOI: 10.1667/rr15458.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emil Rudobeck
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, 92354
| | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, 92354
| | - Roman Vlkolinsky
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, 92354
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16
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Cucinotta FA, Cacao E. Risks of cognitive detriments after low dose heavy ion and proton exposures. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:985-998. [PMID: 31120359 PMCID: PMC6606350 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1623427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Heavy ion and proton brain irradiations occur during space travel and in Hadron therapy for cancer. Heavy ions produce distinct patterns of energy deposition in neuron cells and brain tissues compared to X-rays leading to large uncertainties in risk estimates. We make a critical review of findings from research studies over the last 25 years for understanding risks at low dose. Conclusions: A large number of mouse and rat cognitive testing measures have been reported for a variety of particle species and energies for acute doses. However, tissue reactions occur above dose thresholds and very few studies were performed at the heavy ion doses to be encountered on space missions (<0.04 Gy/y) or considered dose-rate effects, such that threshold doses are not known in rodent models. Investigations of possible mechanisms for cognitive changes have been limited by experimental design with largely group specific and not subject specific findings reported. Persistent oxidative stress and activated microglia cells are common mechanisms studied, while impairment of neurogenesis, detriments in neuron morphology, and changes to gene and protein expression were each found to be important in specific studies. Future research should focus on estimating threshold doses carried out with experimental designs aimed at understating causative mechanisms, which will be essential for extrapolating rodent findings to humans and chronic radiation scenarios, while establishing if mitigation are needed.
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17
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Estimation of the spatial energy deposition in CA1 pyramidal neurons under exposure to 12C and 56Fe ion beams. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrras.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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18
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Kiffer F, Boerma M, Allen A. Behavioral effects of space radiation: A comprehensive review of animal studies. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2019; 21:1-21. [PMID: 31101151 PMCID: PMC7150604 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
As NASA prepares for the first manned mission to Mars in the next 20 years, close attention has been placed on the cognitive welfare of astronauts, who will likely endure extended durations in confinement and microgravity and be subjected to the radioactive charged particles travelling at relativistic speeds in interplanetary space. The future of long-duration manned spaceflight, thus, depends on understanding the individual hazards associated with the environment beyond Earth's protective magnetosphere. Ground-based single-particle studies of exposed mice and rats have, in the last 30 years, overwhelmingly reported deficits in their cognitive behaviors. However, as particle-accelerator technologies at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory continue to progress, more realistic representations of space radiation are materializing, including multiple-particle exposures and, eventually, at multiple energy distributions. These advancements help determine how to best mitigate possible hazards due to space radiation. However, risk models will depend on delineating which particles are most responsible for specific behavioral outcomes and whether multiple-particle exposures produce synergistic effects. Here, we review the literature on animal exposures by particle, energy, and behavioral assay to inform future mixed-field radiation studies of possible behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- Division of Radiation Health, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Division of Radiation Health, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
| | - Antiño Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States; Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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19
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Mao XW, Sandberg LB, Gridley DS, Herrmann EC, Zhang G, Raghavan R, Zubarev RA, Zhang B, Stodieck LS, Ferguson VL, Bateman TA, Pecaut MJ. Proteomic Analysis of Mouse Brain Subjected to Spaceflight. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 20:ijms20010007. [PMID: 30577490 PMCID: PMC6337482 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that spaceflight poses acute and late risks to the central nervous system. To explore possible mechanisms, the proteomic changes following spaceflight in mouse brain were characterized. Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on a 13-day mission. Within 3–5 h after landing, brain tissue was collected to evaluate protein expression profiles using quantitative proteomic analysis. Our results showed that there were 26 proteins that were significantly altered after spaceflight in the gray and/or white matter. While there was no overlap between the white and gray matter in terms of individual proteins, there was overlap in terms of function, synaptic plasticity, vesical activity, protein/organelle transport, and metabolism. Our data demonstrate that exposure to the spaceflight environment induces significant changes in protein expression related to neuronal structure and metabolic function. This might lead to a significant impact on brain structural and functional integrity that could affect the outcome of space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wen Mao
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
| | - Lawrence B Sandberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
| | - Daila S Gridley
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
| | - E Clifford Herrmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
| | - Guangyu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
| | - Ravi Raghavan
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
| | - Roman A Zubarev
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Pharmacological and Technological Chemistry, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Pharmacological and Technological Chemistry, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Louis S Stodieck
- BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
| | - Virginia L Ferguson
- BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
| | - Ted A Bateman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Michael J Pecaut
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
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20
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Whole-Body 12C Irradiation Transiently Decreases Mouse Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus Proliferation and Immature Neuron Number, but Does Not Change New Neuron Survival Rate. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19103078. [PMID: 30304778 PMCID: PMC6213859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
High-charge and -energy (HZE) particles comprise space radiation and they pose a challenge to astronauts on deep space missions. While exposure to most HZE particles decreases neurogenesis in the hippocampus—a brain structure important in memory—prior work suggests that 12C does not. However, much about 12C’s influence on neurogenesis remains unknown, including the time course of its impact on neurogenesis. To address this knowledge gap, male mice (9–11 weeks of age) were exposed to whole-body 12C irradiation 100 cGy (IRR; 1000 MeV/n; 8 kEV/µm) or Sham treatment. To birthdate dividing cells, mice received BrdU i.p. 22 h post-irradiation and brains were harvested 2 h (Short-Term) or three months (Long-Term) later for stereological analysis indices of dentate gyrus neurogenesis. For the Short-Term time point, IRR mice had fewer Ki67, BrdU, and doublecortin (DCX) immunoreactive (+) cells versus Sham mice, indicating decreased proliferation (Ki67, BrdU) and immature neurons (DCX). For the Long-Term time point, IRR and Sham mice had similar Ki67+ and DCX+ cell numbers, suggesting restoration of proliferation and immature neurons 3 months post-12C irradiation. IRR mice had fewer surviving BrdU+ cells versus Sham mice, suggesting decreased cell survival, but there was no difference in BrdU+ cell survival rate when compared within treatment and across time point. These data underscore the ability of neurogenesis in the mouse brain to recover from the detrimental effect of 12C exposure.
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21
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Britten RA, Jewell JS, Duncan VD, Hadley MM, Macadat E, Musto AE, Tessa CL. Impaired Attentional Set-Shifting Performance after Exposure to 5 cGy of 600 MeV/n28Si Particles. Radiat Res 2018; 189:273-282. [DOI: 10.1667/rr14627.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Britten
- Department of a Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
- Leroy T Canoles Jr. Cancer Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Jessica S. Jewell
- Department of a Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Vania D. Duncan
- Department of a Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Melissa M. Hadley
- Department of a Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Evangeline Macadat
- Department of a Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Alberto E. Musto
- Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
| | - Chiara La Tessa
- NSRL Brookhaven National Laboratories, Upton, New York 11973
- University of Trento, Povo Trento 38122, Italy
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22
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Rudobeck E, Bellone JA, Szücs A, Bonnick K, Mehrotra-Carter S, Badaut J, Nelson GA, Hartman RE, Vlkolinský R. Low-dose proton radiation effects in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease - Implications for space travel. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186168. [PMID: 29186131 PMCID: PMC5706673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Space radiation represents a significant health risk for astronauts. Ground-based animal studies indicate that space radiation affects neuronal functions such as excitability, synaptic transmission, and plasticity, and it may accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although protons represent the main constituent in the space radiation spectrum, their effects on AD-related pathology have not been tested. We irradiated 3 month-old APP/PSEN1 transgenic (TG) and wild type (WT) mice with protons (150 MeV; 0.1-1.0 Gy; whole body) and evaluated functional and biochemical hallmarks of AD. We performed behavioral tests in the water maze (WM) before irradiation and in the WM and Barnes maze at 3 and 6 months post-irradiation to evaluate spatial learning and memory. We also performed electrophysiological recordings in vitro in hippocampal slices prepared 6 and 9 months post-irradiation to evaluate excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity. Next, we evaluated amyloid β (Aβ) deposition in the contralateral hippocampus and adjacent cortex using immunohistochemistry. In cortical homogenates, we analyzed the levels of the presynaptic marker synaptophysin by Western blotting and measured pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL10 and CCL2) by bead-based multiplex assay. TG mice performed significantly worse than WT mice in the WM. Irradiation of TG mice did not affect their behavioral performance, but reduced the amplitudes of population spikes and inhibited paired-pulse facilitation in CA1 neurons. These electrophysiological alterations in the TG mice were qualitatively different from those observed in WT mice, in which irradiation increased excitability and synaptic efficacy. Irradiation increased Aβ deposition in the cortex of TG mice without affecting cytokine levels and increased synaptophysin expression in WT mice (but not in the TG mice). Although irradiation with protons increased Aβ deposition, the complex functional and biochemical results indicate that irradiation effects are not synergistic to AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Rudobeck
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - John A. Bellone
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Attila Szücs
- BioCircuits Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Kristine Bonnick
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Shalini Mehrotra-Carter
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Jerome Badaut
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Richard E. Hartman
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Roman Vlkolinský
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
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23
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Kiffer F, Carr H, Groves T, Anderson JE, Alexander T, Wang J, Seawright JW, Sridharan V, Carter G, Boerma M, Allen AR. Effects of 1H + 16O Charged Particle Irradiation on Short-Term Memory and Hippocampal Physiology in a Murine Model. Radiat Res 2017; 189:53-63. [PMID: 29136391 DOI: 10.1667/rr14843.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) poses a significant health risk for deep-space flight crews. GCR are unique in their extremely high-energy particles. With current spacecraft shielding technology, some of the predominant particles astronauts would be exposed to are 1H + 16O. Radiation has been shown to cause cognitive deficits in mice. The hippocampus plays a key role in memory and cognitive tasks; it receives information from the cortex, undergoes dendritic-dependent processing and then relays information back to the cortex. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined 1H + 16O irradiation on cognition and dendritic structures in the hippocampus of adult male mice three months postirradiation. Six-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were irradiated first with 1H (0.5 Gy, 150 MeV/n) and 1 h later with 16O (0.1 Gy, 600 MeV/n) at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (Upton, NY). Three months after irradiation, animals were tested for hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance using the Y-maze. Upon sacrifice, molecular and morphological assessments were performed on hippocampal tissues. During Y-maze testing, the irradiated mice failed to distinguish the novel arm, spending approximately the same amount of time in all three arms during the retention trial relative to sham-treated controls. Irradiated animals also showed changes in expression of glutamate receptor subunits and synaptic density-associated proteins. 1H + 16O radiation compromised dendritic morphology in the cornu ammonis 1 and dentate gyrus within the hippocampus. These data indicate cognitive injuries due to 1H + 16O at three months postirradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Kiffer
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Hannah Carr
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Thomas Groves
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.,c Center for Translational Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
| | - Julie E Anderson
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Tyler Alexander
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Jing Wang
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - John W Seawright
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | | | - Gwendolyn Carter
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Marjan Boerma
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Antiño R Allen
- a Division of Radiation Health.,b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.,c Center for Translational Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
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24
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Lee SH, Dudok B, Parihar VK, Jung KM, Zöldi M, Kang YJ, Maroso M, Alexander AL, Nelson GA, Piomelli D, Katona I, Limoli CL, Soltesz I. Neurophysiology of space travel: energetic solar particles cause cell type-specific plasticity of neurotransmission. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:2345-2357. [PMID: 27905022 PMCID: PMC5504243 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1345-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
In the not too distant future, humankind will embark on one of its greatest adventures, the travel to distant planets. However, deep space travel is associated with an inevitable exposure to radiation fields. Space-relevant doses of protons elicit persistent disruptions in cognition and neuronal structure. However, whether space-relevant irradiation alters neurotransmission is unknown. Within the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for cognition, perisomatic inhibitory control of pyramidal cells (PCs) is supplied by two distinct cell types, the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1)-expressing basket cells (CB1BCs) and parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons (PVINs). Mice subjected to low-dose proton irradiation were analyzed using electrophysiological, biochemical and imaging techniques months after exposure. In irradiated mice, GABA release from CB1BCs onto PCs was dramatically increased. This effect was abolished by CB1 blockade, indicating that irradiation decreased CB1-dependent tonic inhibition of GABA release. These alterations in GABA release were accompanied by decreased levels of the major CB1 ligand 2-arachidonoylglycerol. In contrast, GABA release from PVINs was unchanged, and the excitatory connectivity from PCs to the interneurons also underwent cell type-specific alterations. These results demonstrate that energetic charged particles at space-relevant low doses elicit surprisingly selective long-term plasticity of synaptic microcircuits in the hippocampus. The magnitude and persistent nature of these alterations in synaptic function are consistent with the observed perturbations in cognitive performance after irradiation, while the high specificity of these changes indicates that it may be possible to develop targeted therapeutic interventions to decrease the risk of adverse events during interplanetary travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Hun Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. .,Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Barna Dudok
- Momentum Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.,School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vipan K Parihar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Miklós Zöldi
- Momentum Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.,School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Young-Jin Kang
- Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Mattia Maroso
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, and Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Allyson L Alexander
- Department of Neurosurgery, and Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gregory A Nelson
- Division of Radiation Research, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - István Katona
- Momentum Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1083, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Ivan Soltesz
- Department of Neurosurgery, and Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
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Hadley MM, Davis LK, Jewell JS, Miller VD, Britten RA. Exposure to Mission-Relevant Doses of 1 GeV/n48Ti Particles Impairs Attentional Set-Shifting Performance in Retired Breeder Rats. Radiat Res 2016; 185:13-9. [DOI: 10.1667/rr14086.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Bellone JA, Rudobeck E, Hartman RE, Szücs A, Vlkolinský R. A Single Low Dose of Proton Radiation Induces Long-Term Behavioral and Electrophysiological Changes in Mice. Radiat Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1667/rr13903.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Marty VN, Vlkolinsky R, Minassian N, Cohen T, Nelson GA, Spigelman I. Radiation-Induced Alterations in Synaptic Neurotransmission of Dentate Granule Cells Depend on the Dose and Species of Charged Particles. Radiat Res 2014; 182:653-65. [DOI: 10.1667/rr13647.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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