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Kokhan VS, Pikalov VA, Chaprov K, Gulyaev MV. Combined Ionizing Radiation Exposure by Gamma Rays and Carbon-12 Nuclei Increases Neurotrophic Factor Content and Prevents Age-Associated Decreases in the Volume of the Sensorimotor Cortex in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6725. [PMID: 38928431 PMCID: PMC11203503 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126725] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In orbital and ground-based experiments, it has been demonstrated that ionizing radiation (IR) can stimulate the locomotor and exploratory activity of rodents, but the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains undisclosed. Here, we studied the effect of combined IR (0.4 Gy γ-rays and 0.14 Gy carbon-12 nuclei) on the locomotor and exploratory activity of rats, and assessed the sensorimotor cortex volume by magnetic resonance imaging-based morphometry at 1 week and 7 months post-irradiation. The sensorimotor cortex tissues were processed to determine whether the behavioral and morphologic effects were associated with changes in neurotrophin content. The irradiated rats were characterized by increased locomotor and exploratory activity, as well as novelty-seeking behavior, at 3 days post-irradiation. At the same time, only unirradiated rats experienced a significant decrease in the sensorimotor cortex volume at 7 months. While there were no significant differences at 1 week, at 7 months, the irradiated rats were characterized by higher neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 content in the sensorimotor cortex. Thus, IR prevents the age-associated decrease in the sensorimotor cortex volume, which is associated with neurotrophic and neurogenic changes. Meanwhile, IR-induced increases in locomotor activity may be the cause of the observed changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor S. Kokhan
- V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Pikalov
- Institute for High Energy Physics Named by A.A. Logunov of NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, 142281 Protvino, Russia;
| | - Kirill Chaprov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia;
| | - Mikhail V. Gulyaev
- Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
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Yun S, Kiffer FC, Bancroft GL, Guzman CS, Soler I, Haas HA, Shi R, Patel R, Lara-Jiménez J, Kumar PL, Tran FH, Ahn KJ, Rong Y, Luitel K, Shay JW, Eisch AJ. The longitudinal behavioral effects of acute exposure to galactic cosmic radiation in female C57BL/6J mice: implications for deep space missions, female crews, and potential antioxidant countermeasures. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.588768. [PMID: 38659963 PMCID: PMC11042186 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.588768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) is an unavoidable risk to astronauts that may affect mission success. Male rodents exposed to 33-beam-GCR (33-GCR) show short-term cognitive deficits but reports on female rodents and long-term assessment is lacking. Here we asked: What are the longitudinal behavioral effects of 33-GCR on female mice? Also, can an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory compound mitigate the impact of 33-GCR? Mature (6-month-old) C57BL/6J female mice received the antioxidant CDDO-EA (400 µg/g of food) or a control diet (vehicle, Veh) for 5 days and either Sham-irradiation (IRR) or whole-body 33-GCR (0.75Gy) on the 4th day. Three-months post-IRR, mice underwent two touchscreen-platform tests: 1) location discrimination reversal (which tests behavior pattern separation and cognitive flexibility, two abilities reliant on the dentate gyrus) and 2) stimulus-response learning/extinction. Mice then underwent arena-based behavior tests (e.g. open field, 3-chamber social interaction). At the experiment end (14.25-month post-IRR), neurogenesis was assessed (doublecortin-immunoreactive [DCX+] dentate gyrus neurons). Female mice exposed to Veh/Sham vs. Veh/33-GCR had similar pattern separation (% correct to 1st reversal). There were two effects of diet: CDDO-EA/Sham and CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice had better pattern separation vs. their respective control groups (Veh/Sham, Veh/33-GCR), and CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice had better cognitive flexibility (reversal number) vs. Veh/33-GCR mice. Notably, one radiation effect/CDDO-EA countereffect also emerged: Veh/33-GCR mice had worse stimulus-response learning (days to completion) vs. all other groups, including CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice. In general, all mice show normal anxiety-like behavior, exploration, and habituation to novel environments. There was also a change in neurogenesis: Veh/33-GCR mice had fewer DCX+ dentate gyrus immature neurons vs. Veh/Sham mice. Our study implies space radiation is a risk to a female crew's longitudinal mission-relevant cognitive processes and CDDO-EA is a potential dietary countermeasure for space-radiation CNS risks.
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The Effects of Galactic Cosmic Rays on the Central Nervous System: From Negative to Unexpectedly Positive Effects That Astronauts May Encounter. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030400. [PMID: 36979092 PMCID: PMC10044754 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) pose a serious threat to astronauts’ health during deep space missions. The possible functional alterations of the central nervous system (CNS) under GCR exposure can be critical for mission success. Despite the obvious negative effects of ionizing radiation, a number of neutral or even positive effects of GCR irradiation on CNS functions were revealed in ground-based experiments with rodents and primates. This review is focused on the GCR exposure effects on emotional state and cognition, emphasizing positive effects and their potential mechanisms. We integrate these data with GCR effects on adult neurogenesis and pathological protein aggregation, forming a complete picture. We conclude that GCR exposure causes multidirectional effects on cognition, which may be associated with emotional state alterations. However, the irradiation in space-related doses either has no effect or has performance enhancing effects in solving high-level cognition tasks and tasks with a high level of motivation. We suppose the model of neurotransmission changes after irradiation, although the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood.
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Sorokina SS, Paskevich SI, Zaichkina SI, Malkov AE, Pikalov VA. The Combined Effect of Protective Agents and Accelerated Carbon Ions on the Behavior of Mice. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022120226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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McNerlin C, Guan F, Bronk L, Lei K, Grosshans D, Young DW, Gaber MW, Maletic-Savatic M. Targeting hippocampal neurogenesis to protect astronauts' cognition and mood from decline due to space radiation effects. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 35:170-179. [PMID: 36336363 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neurogenesis is an essential, lifelong process during which neural stem cells generate new neurons within the hippocampus, a center for learning, memory, and mood control. Neural stem cells are vulnerable to environmental insults spanning from chronic stress to radiation. These insults reduce their numbers and diminish neurogenesis, leading to memory decline, anxiety, and depression. Preserving neural stem cells could thus help prevent these neurogenesis-associated pathologies, an outcome particularly important for long-term space missions where environmental exposure to radiation is significantly higher than on Earth. Multiple developments, from mechanistic discoveries of radiation injury on hippocampal neurogenesis to new platforms for the development of selective, specific, effective, and safe small molecules as neurogenesis-protective agents hold great promise to minimize radiation damage on neurogenesis. In this review, we summarize the effects of space-like radiation on hippocampal neurogenesis. We then focus on current advances in drug discovery and development and discuss the nuclear receptor TLX/NR2E1 (oleic acid receptor) as an example of a neurogenic target that might rescue neurogenesis following radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare McNerlin
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington D.C. 20007, United States of America
| | - Fada Guan
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States of America
| | - Lawrence Bronk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Kevin Lei
- Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, United States of America; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, 1250 Moursund St. Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - David Grosshans
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Damian W Young
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, 1250 Moursund St. Houston, TX 77030, United States of America; Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology and Immunology Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States of America
| | - M Waleed Gaber
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
| | - Mirjana Maletic-Savatic
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, 1250 Moursund St. Houston, TX 77030, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.
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Wu MY, Zou WJ, Yu P, Yang Y, Li SJ, Liu Q, Xie J, Chen SQ, Lin WJ, Tang Y. Cranial irradiation impairs intrinsic excitability and synaptic plasticity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons with implications for cognitive function. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2253-2259. [PMID: 35259846 PMCID: PMC9083168 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.336875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy is a standard treatment for head and neck tumors. However, patients often exhibit cognitive impairments following radiation therapy. Previous studies have revealed that hippocampal dysfunction, specifically abnormal hippocampal neurogenesis or neuroinflammation, plays a key role in radiation-induced cognitive impairment. However, the long-term effects of radiation with respect to the electrophysiological adaptation of hippocampal neurons remain poorly characterized. We found that mice exhibited cognitive impairment 3 months after undergoing 10 minutes of cranial irradiation at a dose rate of 3 Gy/min. Furthermore, we observed a remarkable reduction in spike firing and excitatory synaptic input, as well as greatly enhanced inhibitory inputs, in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Corresponding to the electrophysiological adaptation, we found reduced expression of synaptic plasticity marker VGLUT1 and increased expression of VGAT. Furthermore, in irradiated mice, long-term potentiation in the hippocampus was weakened and GluR1 expression was inhibited. These findings suggest that radiation can impair intrinsic excitability and synaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yi Wu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Pei Yu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuhua Yang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shao-Jian Li
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiatian Xie
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Si-Qi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei-Jye Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yamei Tang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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Kiffer FC, Luitel K, Tran FH, Patel RA, Guzman CS, Soler I, Xiao R, Shay JW, Yun S, Eisch AJ. Effects of a 33-ion sequential beam galactic cosmic ray analog on male mouse behavior and evaluation of CDDO-EA as a radiation countermeasure. Behav Brain Res 2022; 419:113677. [PMID: 34818568 PMCID: PMC9755463 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In long-term spaceflight, astronauts will face unique cognitive loads and social challenges which will be complicated by communication delays with Earth. It is important to understand the central nervous system (CNS) effects of deep spaceflight and the associated unavoidable exposure to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). Rodent studies show single- or simple-particle combination exposure alters CNS endpoints, including hippocampal-dependent behavior. An even better Earth-based simulation of GCR is now available, consisting of a 33-beam (33-GCR) exposure. However, the effect of whole-body 33-GCR exposure on rodent behavior is unknown, and no 33-GCR CNS countermeasures have been tested. Here astronaut-age-equivalent (6mo-old) C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to 33-GCR (75cGy, a Mars mission dose). Pre-/during/post-Sham or 33-GCR exposure, mice received a diet containing a 'vehicle' formulation alone or with the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory compound CDDO-EA as a potential countermeasure. Behavioral testing beginning 4mo post-irradiation suggested radiation and diet did not affect measures of exploration/anxiety-like behaviors (open field, elevated plus maze) or recognition of a novel object. However, in 3-Chamber Social Interaction (3-CSI), CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice failed to spend more time exploring a holder containing a novel mouse vs. a novel object (empty holder), suggesting sociability deficits. Also, Vehicle/33-GCR and CDDO-EA/Sham mice failed to discriminate between a novel stranger vs. familiarized stranger mouse, suggesting blunted preference for social novelty. CDDO-EA given pre-/during/post-irradiation did not attenuate the 33-GCR-induced blunting of preference for social novelty. Future elucidation of the mechanisms underlying 33-GCR-induced blunting of preference for social novelty will improve risk analysis for astronauts which may in-turn improve countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico C Kiffer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Krishna Luitel
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA, 75390
| | - Fionya H Tran
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Riya A Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Catalina S Guzman
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Ivan Soler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Rui Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics Division of Biostatistics, CHOP Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Jerry W Shay
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA, 75390
| | - Sanghee Yun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104,Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Amelia J Eisch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Luo N, Zhu W, Li X, Fu M, Peng X, Yang F, Zhang Y, Yin H, Yang C, Zhao J, Yuan X, Hu G. Impact of Gut Microbiota on Radiation-Associated Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation in Mice. Radiat Res 2022; 197:350-364. [PMID: 34982167 DOI: 10.1667/rade-21-00006.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Radiation-induced brain injury is a common complication of brain irradiation that eventually leads to irreversible cognitive impairment. Evidence has shown that the gut microbiome may play an important role in radiation-induced cognitive function. However, the effects of gut microbiota on radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) remain poorly understood. Here we studied the link between intestinal microbes and radiation-induced brain injury to further investigate the effects of intestinal bacteria on neuroinflammation and cognitive function. We first verified the differences in gut microbes between male and female mice and administered antibiotics to C57BL/6 male mice to deplete the gut flora and then expose mice to radiation. We found that depletion of intestinal flora after irradiation may act as a protective modulator against radiation-induced brain injury. Moreover, we found that pretreatment with depleted gut microbes in RIBI mice suppressed brain pro-inflammatory factor production, and high-throughput sequencing analysis of mouse feces at 1-month postirradiation revealed microbial differences. Interestingly, a proportion of Verrucomicrobia Akkermansia showed partial recovery. Additionally, short-chain fatty acid treatments increased neuroinflammation in the radiation-induced brain injury model. Although a further increase in cognitive function was not observed, brain injury was aggravated in whole-brain irradiated mice to some extent. The protective effects of depleted intestinal flora and the utilization of the brain-gut axis open new avenues for development of innovative therapeutic strategies for radiation-induced brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Luo
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaohong Peng
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Han Yin
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chunlei Yang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xianglin Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Guangyuan Hu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
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Sorokina SS, Malkov AE, Shubina LV, Zaichkina SI, Pikalov VA. Low dose of carbon ion irradiation induces early delayed cognitive impairments in mice. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2021; 60:61-71. [PMID: 33392787 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-020-00889-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
People often encounter various sources of ionizing radiation, both in modern medicine and under various environmental conditions, such as space travel, nuclear power plants or in conditions of man-made disasters that may lead to long-term cognitive impairment. Whilst the effect of exposure to low and high doses of gamma and X-radiation on the central nervous system (CNS) has been well investigated, the consequences of protons and heavy ions irradiation are quite different and poorly understood. As for the assessment of long-term effects of carbon ions on cognitive abilities and neurodegeneration, very few data appeared in the literature. The main object of the research is to investigate the effects of accelerated carbon ions on the cognitive function. Experiments were performed on male SHK mice at an age of two months. Mice were irradiated with a dose of 0.7 Gy of accelerated carbon ions with an energy of 450 meV/n in spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) on a U-70 particle accelerator (Protvino, Russia). Two months after the irradiation, mice were tested for total activity, spatial learning, as well as long- and short-term hippocampus-dependent memory. One month after the evaluation of cognitive activity, histological analysis of dorsal hippocampus was carried out to assess its morphological state and to reveal late neuronal degeneration. It was found that the mice irradiated with accelerated carbon ions develop an altered behavioral pattern characterized by anxiety and a shortage in hippocampal-dependent memory retention, but not in episodic memory. Nissl staining revealed a reduction in the number of cells in the dorsal hippocampus of irradiated mice, with the most pronounced reduction in cell density observed in the dentate gyrus (DG) hilus. Also, the length of the CA3 field of the dorsal hippocampus was significantly reduced, and the number of cells in it was moderately decreased. Experiments with the use of Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining revealed no FJB-positive regions in the dorsal hippocampus of irradiated and control animals 3 months after the irradiation. Thus, no morbid cells were detected in irradiated and control groups. The results obtained indicate that total irradiation with a low dose of carbon ions can produce a cognitive deficit in adult mice without evidence of neurodegenerative pathologic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Sorokina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics Russian Academy of Sciences (ITEB RAS), Pushchino, Russia.
| | - A E Malkov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics Russian Academy of Sciences (ITEB RAS), Pushchino, Russia
| | - L V Shubina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics Russian Academy of Sciences (ITEB RAS), Pushchino, Russia
| | - S I Zaichkina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics Russian Academy of Sciences (ITEB RAS), Pushchino, Russia
| | - V A Pikalov
- Institute of High Energy Physics Named by A.A. Logunov of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Protvino, Russia
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Biggio F, Mostallino M, Talani G, Locci V, Mostallino R, Calandra G, Sanna E, Biggio G. Social enrichment reverses the isolation-induced deficits of neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus of male rats. Neuropharmacology 2019; 151:45-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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11
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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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Short and Long-Term Changes in Social Odor Recognition and Plasma Cytokine Levels Following Oxygen ( 16O) Ion Radiation Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020339. [PMID: 30650610 PMCID: PMC6359552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Future long-duration space missions will involve travel outside of the Earth’s magnetosphere protection and will result in astronauts being exposed to high energy and charge (HZE) ions and protons. Exposure to this type of radiation can result in damage to the central nervous system and deficits in numerous cognitive domains that can jeopardize mission success. Social processing is a cognitive domain that is important for people living and working in groups, such as astronauts, but it has received little attention in terms of HZE ion exposure. In the current study, we assessed the effects of whole-body oxygen ion (16O; 1000 MeV/n) exposure (1 or 10 cGy) on social odor recognition memory in male Long-Evans rats at one and six months following exposure. Radiation exposure did not affect rats’ preferences for a novel social odor experienced during Habituation at either time point. However, rats exposed to 10 cGy displayed short and long-term deficits in 24-h social recognition. In contrast, rats exposed to 1 cGy only displayed long-term deficits in 24-h social recognition. While an age-related decrease in Ki67+ staining (a marker of cell proliferation) was found in the subventricular zone, it was unaffected by radiation exposure. At one month following exposure, plasma KC/GRO (CXCL1) levels were elevated in the 1 cGy rats, but not in the 10 cGy rats, suggesting that peripheral levels of this cytokine could be associated with intact social recognition at earlier time points following radiation exposure. These results have important implications for long-duration missions and demonstrate that behaviors related to social processing could be negatively affected by HZE ion exposure.
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