NASA GeneLab’s Post

🧠 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: Low-Dose Radiation & Risk-Taking in Female Rats 🐀 Assessed with Touchscreen Tasks📱 A recent study published in 𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ, titled "𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝟏𝟎 𝐜𝐆𝐲) 𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 ⁴𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤-𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐬," explores how low-dose space radiation 🚀 affects decision-making behaviour using innovative touchscreen tasks. The research was conducted by Nina Li, Simran Phuyal, Elliot Smits, Faith E. Reid, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Alvarado Arriaga, and Richard A. Britten from the 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 ☢️: Female rats were exposed to 10 cGy of ⁴He ions, simulating space radiation environments. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤-𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐑𝐓𝐏) 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤 🎯: The rats completed a Risk-Taking Propensity (RTP) task using touchscreen-based technology. This task required the rats to make choices between high-risk, high-reward options and safer, low-reward alternatives, allowing researchers to measure their willingness to engage in riskier decisions. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 📊: Rats exposed to radiation demonstrated a significant increase in risk-taking behavior, opting for the riskier high-reward options more frequently, even when the odds were less favourable. These findings provide important insights into how radiation exposure might alter decision-making processes, with potential implications for astronaut safety 🧑🚀 on long-duration space missions. 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/e5G-kSdS 🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/eJgunHfm #Neuroscience #RadiationResearch #TouchscreenTasks #RiskTaking #SpaceExploration #BehavioralScience MouseTRAP

Cosmic kidney disease: This fascinating study shows a renal structural and functional remodeling in astronauts, likely caused by exposure to microgravity and galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). Renal remodeling in microgravity (possibly related to the cephalad fluid shift) may be a primary event that causes subsequent dysregulation of serum and urine electrolyte homeostasis, which leads to an increased risk of nephroplithiasis. Mechanistically, this could be explained by an increase in calcium and oxalate in the urine associated with a decreased phosphorylation of NKCC2 in the loop of Henle. Acute exposure to simulated GCR causes both acute and chronic tubular epithelial and vascular damage in mice that appears both progressive and irreversible. In addition to the general drop in blood pressure caused by spaceflight, a long-term stay in space places the kidney in an impossible position whereby it must choose whether to defend renal perfusion or the health of its microvasculature. If the arterioles dilate to enhance blood flow, they leave the microvasculature open to damage from unbuffered pressure waves on top of the radiation damage caused by GCR. Whereas if they constrict to provide protection to the microvasculature, they reduce blood flow and therefore oxygen supply to the renal tubules, which further compounds and exacerbates the chronic oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction from GCR bombardment These finding suggests that measures to counteract this adaptation to long term microgravity and cosmic ray exposure will have to be found to preserve renal function in astronauts on their way to Mars. #kidneyfunction #spaceflight https://lnkd.in/eDhwJgDh

Ophthopedia Update:Corneal wound healing in spaceflight: implications of microgravity-induced molecular signaling modulations for corneal health: Eye, Published online: 26 June 2024; doi:10.1038/s41433-024-03204-zCorneal wound healing in spaceflight: implications of microgravity-induced molecular signaling modulations for corneal health #Ophthalmology #Eye #Ophthotwitter

Extreme Microbiology-"How the adaptation of the human microbiome to harsh space environment can determine the chances of success for a space mission to Mars and beyond" Abstract : "The ability of human cells to adapt to space radiation is essential for the well-being of astronauts during long-distance space expeditions, such as voyages to Mars or other deep space destinations. However, the adaptation of the microbiomes should not be overlooked. Microorganisms inside an astronaut’s body, or inside the space station or other spacecraft, will also be exposed to radiation, which may induce resistance to antibiotics, UV, heat, desiccation, and other life-threatening factors. Therefore, it is essential to consider the potential effects of radiation not only on humans but also on their microbiomes to develop effective risk reduction strategies for space missions. Studying the human microbiome in space missions can have several potential benefits, including but not limited to a better understanding of the major effects space travel has on human health, developing new technologies for monitoring health and developing new radiation therapies and treatments. While radioadaptive response in astronauts’ cells can lead to resistance against high levels of space radiation, radioadaptive response in their microbiome can lead to resistance against UV, heat, desiccation, antibiotics, and radiation. As astronauts and their microbiomes compete to adapt to the space environment. The microorganisms may emerge as the winners, leading to life-threatening situations due to lethal infections. Therefore, understanding the magnitude of the adaptation of microorganisms before launching a space mission is crucial to be able to develop effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with radiation exposure. Ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts during long-duration space missions and minimizing the risks linked with radiation exposure can be achieved by adopting this approach." https://lnkd.in/e8uUAkbM

Orion spacecraft radiation protection tested, Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 19, 2024 Space radiation presents major health risks to astronauts, potentially causing cancer and other degenerative diseases. As space missions extend in duration and distance, it becomes critical to develop effective protective measures for crews operating beyond Earth's magnetic shield. Detailed data on radiation exposure during deep space missions is essential for designing these protections., : Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 19, 2024

Could the etiology of SANS lie at the molecular level? Mitochondrial dysfunction in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS): a molecular hypothesis in pathogenesis. Comment at Eye by Nature Portfolio Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) affects astronauts during long-duration spaceflight, showing symptoms like refractive shifts, optic disc edema, and globe flattening. The condition may be linked to mitochondrial dysfunction due to microgravity effects and increased exposure to cosmic radiation. Countermeasures include lifestyle interventions, augmented reality, and near-infrared light therapy. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for mitigating risks on long-duration space missions. clinical approaches currently point toward perivascular spaces homeostasis and base of skull pressure gradients, wouldn’t a molecular disfunction produce more general affects than CNS hypertension? #SpaceMedicine #Intracranial #pressure #skull #gradients #extremephysiology https://lnkd.in/eV-QtFFu

A perspective on the evidence for glymphatic obstruction in spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome and fatigue: Diving into the link between spaceflight neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) and glymphatic system issues. Perspective at Nature Portfolio- #NatureNPJ Drawing parallels with idiopathic intracranial hypertension on Earth — authors explore potential mechanisms of SANS, focusing on glymphatic system insufficiency due to brain and optic nerve venous dilatation. Similar issues manifest in conditions like childhood hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis, and syringomyelia, shedding light on SANS origins. Comparing cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and venous pathophysiology in SANS with “1-G diseases” offers valuable insights, but there’s a need to consider factors like fluid shifts, physical exercise in space, and hydrofluid intracranial pressures in microgravity. #spacemedreview #journalclub #spacemedicine #SANS #extremephysiology #microgravity #hydrostatic https://t.co/W2n3jIMxAc

What happens to the #microbiome and host immune system during spaceflight and recovery https://lnkd.in/ewdUTkvj #microbiota See also https://lnkd.in/eiHubHHV

Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) marked a banner year for the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS), with a record number of payloads flown to the orbiting outpost and increasing private-sector demand for access to low Earth orbit. These successes and many others are highlighted in the ISS National Lab Annual Report for FY23 released by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)...https://lnkd.in/gARQdq4b