An investigation of the single and combined effects of hypogravity and ionizing radiation on brain monoamine metabolism and rats' behavior.

BACKGROUND: Ionizing radiation and hypogravity can cause central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions. This is a key limiting factor for deep space missions. Up until now, the mechanisms through which they affect the neural tissue are not completely understood. OBJECTIVES: We studied how the combination of hypogravity (antiorthostatic suspension model, AS) and ionizing radiations (γ-quanta and 1H+ together, R) affects the CNS. METHODS: We applied separately and in combination AS and R to determine the influence of these factors on behavior and metabolism of monoamines in Wistar rat's brain. RESULTS: We found out that R has a slight effect on both the behavior and metabolism of monoamines. However, when applied in combination with AS the former was able to reduce the negative effects of the latter. The combined effect of ionizing radiation and hypogravity led to the recovery of locomotor activity, orientation and exploratory behavior, and long-term context memory impaired under the impact of hypogravity only. These changes came together with an increase in the serotonin and dopamine turnover in all of the brain structures that were studied. CONCLUSIONS: We received the first evidence of interferential interaction between the effects of ionizing radiation and hypogravity factors with regard to a behavior and monoamine turnover in the brain. Further studies with heavy nuclei at relevant doses (<0.5 Gy) are needed.

Psycho-emotional status but not cognition is changed under the combined effect of ionizing radiations at doses related to deep space missions.

Human spaceflight launch is the big challenge that the humanity work on. The astronauts' task performance vulnerability to ionizing radiations is one of the major factors limiting deep space missions. In this work, we study the effect of ionizing radiations (γ-quanta and 12C6+ in combination) on cognitive abilities and psycho-emotional status of Wistar rats. Irradiation led to the hyperlocomotion, increase of anxiety-like behavior, suppression of depressive-like behavior and enhancement of spatial learning. These data are consistent with the neurochemical/molecular analysis: enhanced monoaminergic innervation within the hypothalamus (HYP), inhibition of serotonin turnover in the prefrontal cortex and neurokenin 1 receptor overexpression in the amygdala (AMY). In addition, we observe decreased expression of certain biomolecules in the AMY (5-HT2c and 5-HT3) and in the HYP (5-HT2a, 5-HT4 and VMAT2) that can be explained as neuroadaptive changes. Thus, the ionizing radiation exposure significantly modulates the psycho-emotional status. With that, for the first time we received data that radiation effects in the doses and composition of interplanetary space (in terrestrial modeling) could be relatively safe for cognitive functions.

Combined effects of antiorthostatic suspension and ionizing radiation on the behaviour and neurotransmitters changes in different brain structures of rats.

Space flight factors (SFF) significantly affect the operating activity of astronauts during deep space missions. In contrast to an orbital flight, leaving the Earth's magnetic field is fraught with the dangers of exposure to ionizing radiation and more specifically, the high-energy nuclei component of galactic cosmic rays. Microgravity, just another critical non-radiation factor, significantly affects the normal functioning of the CNS. Some morphological structures of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, that are rich in monoaminergic and acetylcholinergic neurones, are the most sensitive to the effects of ionizing radiation and non-radiation spaceflight factors (SFF). In this work we have studied the combined effects of microgravity (in antiorthostatic suspension model, AS) and irradiation (γ-ray and protons in spread-out Bragg peak) on the behaviour, cognitive abilities, and metabolism of monoamines and acetylcholine in the key structures of the rat's brain. Irradiation (as independently as combined with AS) resulted in the decrease of thigmotaxis in rats. Learning problems, caused by the malfunctioning of the working memory but not the spatial memory, were observed in response to AS as well as to the SFF in combination. Analysis of monoamines metabolism showed that the serotoninergic system was the most affected by the SFF. Concentration of acetylcholine in the hippocampus significantly increased in the groups of irradiated rats, and in the groups which were exposed to the SFF in combination, compared to the rats exposed only to AS.

Risk of defeats in the central nervous system during deep space missions.

Space flight factors (SFF) significantly affect the operating activity of astronauts during deep space missions. Gravitational overloads, hypo-magnetic field and ionizing radiation are the main SFF that perturb the normal activity of the central nervous system (CNS). Acute and chronic CNS risks include alterations in cognitive abilities, reduction of motor functions and behavioural changes. Multiple experimental works have been devoted to the SFF effects on integrative functional activity of the brain; however, the model parameters utilized have not always been ideal and consistent. Even less is known regarding the combined effects of these SFF in a real interplanetary mission, for example to Mars. Our review aims to systemize and analyse the last advancements in astrobiology, with a focus on the combined effects of SFF; as well as to discuss on unification of the parameters for ground-based models of deep space missions.