Deep-space radiation could cause have big impacts on the brain, mouse experiment shows
[ad_1]
Could deep-space radiation seriously affect the human brain?
In a new study, male mice exposed to simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) — high-energy radiation in space more commonly known as deep-space radiation — experienced impaired spatial learning. Spatial learning in mice is similar to declarative memory in humans, or the ability to remember what happens day-to-day. The female mice in the study did not show spatial learning impairments.
“There is ample evidence now from our lab and other labs showing that deep-space radiation affects the central nervous system. So we do need to study this stressor, [and] there are many questions still to answer,” co-author Susanna Rosi, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, told Space.com in an email.
Related: Radiation poses a major obstacle to future Mars-bound astronauts
Deep-space radiation is of concern to space agencies and companies as astronauts traveling even on short-duration jaunts to space have to consider the possible effects of the radiation on human health. While researchers continue to conduct research to better understand how radiation in space could affect human health, scientists do know that increased radiation in space does put astronauts at higher risk for health effects like cancer.
“We know the moment we go outside the Earth’s magnetosphere we are not protected anymore from deep-space radiation,” Rosi said.
In this study, researchers explored the possible health effects of deep-space radiation by exposing a group of mice to simulated GCR in a controlled environment. “We can’t ethically irradiate humans so the mouse model is the best approximation we can use,” Rosi said.
“All experiments were conducted in accordance with [the] National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of University of California (San Francisco),” the researchers wrote in a paper describing the study.
Five months after being irradiated, the mice were observed over several weeks to see how they behaved. The mice were tasked with finding a hidden platform in water using navigational cues.
When compared to control subjects, the male mice exposed to radiation had, on average, more errors in trying to find the platform, showing impairments in their spatial learning. The female mice did not show these effects.
“We have previously shown in a study published in 2018 that using a different but similar dosing regimen, female mice were protected from the effects of space radiation,” Rosi said. “Male mice showed activated innate immune system in the brain while female [mice] did not. We believe that these sex differences are due to the way that the innate immune system microglia respond (in male mice) or don’t respond (in female mice) to radiation.”
The team also evaluated the mice’s behavior and indicators of anxiety, sociability and social memory but observed no changes.
The researchers were also able to identify a blood biomarker that could be used to predict which male mice could be at risk of cognitive effects. They also found that, by temporarily depleting brain immune cells (known as microglia) after exposure, it could help to mitigate some of the effects seen in these male mice.
“This research in line with others suggests that we need to consider the effects of deep space radiation for the astronauts, we need to find mitigators that can help,” Rosi said. “The research also tells us that mitigators currently approved in humans to deplete microglia could be used by astronauts!”
This new study, led by researchers at the University of California, San Fransisco, was published Oct. 15 in the journal Science Advances.
Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
[ad_2]
Original Post
Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I have been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright transparent idea
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
You really make it seem so easy along with your presentation but I find this matter to be really one thing that I think I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely broad for me. I am taking a look ahead on your subsequent submit, I?¦ll attempt to get the dangle of it!
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks
I was very pleased to seek out this web-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this wonderful read!! I undoubtedly having fun with each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.
It is the best time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I have read this put up and if I could I want to recommend you few attention-grabbing things or tips. Perhaps you could write subsequent articles regarding this article. I want to read even more things approximately it!
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a great web site.
Keep working ,remarkable job!
Very interesting topic, thankyou for posting.
After study a couple of of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I actually like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website checklist and shall be checking again soon. Pls try my web page as effectively and let me know what you think.
I cling on to listening to the rumor lecture about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i find some?
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. appreciate it
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this web site is very user genial! .
Great blog! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also.
I don’t even understand how I finished up right here, but I thought this post was once good. I do not realize who you are however definitely you’re going to a famous blogger when you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I have learn several excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you set to make one of these excellent informative site.
I am only commenting to make you know of the extraordinary discovery my wife’s child obtained viewing your blog. She mastered some things, including what it is like to possess a great teaching nature to let other folks without problems thoroughly grasp certain specialized topics. You truly exceeded our own expected results. Many thanks for offering these warm and friendly, healthy, edifying and even cool thoughts on the topic to Janet.
Some really interesting points you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was searching for : D.
very good put up, i definitely love this web site, carry on it
wonderful publish, very informative. I ponder why the other experts of this sector don’t understand this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
I just couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual info a person provide on your visitors? Is going to be again continuously in order to investigate cross-check new posts
I truly prize your piece of work, Great post.
I¦ve learn some good stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you put to create one of these excellent informative site.
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful information here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
There are actually quite a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a nice level to bring up. I provide the thoughts above as basic inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up the place an important thing will be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around things like that, but I am certain that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Each boys and girls feel the influence of just a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
How Does Sugar Defender Work & What are the Expected Results? Sugar Defender is a liquid supplement.
It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
What i do not understood is if truth be told how you’re no longer actually a lot more well-favored than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You already know thus significantly with regards to this topic, made me in my opinion imagine it from a lot of various angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested except it is something to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time deal with it up!
Im now not sure where you are getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic information I was in search of this info for my mission.
Hi my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to look more posts like this .
wonderful post, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t understand this. You should proceed your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. kudos