Galactic cosmic ray simulation at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

Norbury, John W.; Schimmerling, W.; Slaba, Tony C.; Azzam, Edouard I.; Badavi, Mohammad; Baiocco, G.; Benton, E. R.; Bindi, V.; Blakely, Eleanor A.; Blattnig, Steve R.; Boothman, David A.; Borak, Thomas B.; Britten, Richard A.; Curtis, Stan; Dingfelder, M.; Durante, Marco; Dynan, William S.; Eisch, Amelia J.; Elgart, S. Robin; Goodhead, Dudley T.; Guida, Peter; Heilbronn, L.; Hellweg, Christine E.; Huff, Janice L.; Kronenberg, Amy; Tessa, Chiara La; Lowenstein, D.; Miller, Jack; Morita, Takashi; Narici, L.; Nelson, Gregory A.; Norman, Ryan B.; Ottolenghi, A.; Patel, Zarana S.; Reitz, Guenther; Rusek, A.; Schreurs, Ann-Sofie; Scott-Carnell, Lisa A.; Semones, E.; Shay, Jerry W.; Shurshakov, Vyacheslav; Sihver, Lembit; Simonsen, Lisa C.; Story, Michael D.; Turker, Mitchell S.; Uchihori, Y.; Williams, Jacqueline P.; Zeitlin, C.

doi:10.1016/j.lssr.2016.02.001

Cited by 116 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…First, we examined the effect of exposure to only a single type of ion, Fe. Thus, our data are not reflective of physical or biological interactions that may be present with exposure to mixed particle radiation (71). Second, Fe ions encountered in space present with a wide range of energies that intermittently and unpredictably bombard astronauts during interplanetary space flights (72).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Sweet

Hurley

et al. 2016

Radiation Research

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Understanding the dose-toxicity profile of radiation is critical when evaluating potential health risks associated with natural and man-made sources in our environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-dose whole-body high-energy charged (HZE) iron (Fe) ions and low-energy gamma exposure on proliferation and differentiation of adult-born neurons within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, cells deemed to play a critical role in memory regulation. To determine the dose-response characteristics of the brain to whole-body Fe-ion vs. gamma-radiation exposure, C57BL/6J mice were irradiated with 1 GeV/n Fe ions or a static 137Cs source (0.662 MeV) at doses ranging from 0 to 300 cGy. The neurogenesis was analyzed at 48 h and one month postirradiation. These experiments revealed that whole-body exposure to either Fe ions or gamma radiation leads to: 1. An acute decrease in cell division within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, detected at doses as low as 30 and 100 cGy for Fe ions and gamma radiation, respectively; and 2. A reduction in newly differentiated neurons (DCX immunoreactivity) at one month postirradiation, with significant decreases detected at doses as low as 100 cGy for both Fe ions and gamma rays. The data presented here contribute to our understanding of brain responses to whole-body Fe ions and gamma rays and may help inform health-risk evaluations related to systemic exposure during a medical or radiologic/nuclear event or as a result of prolonged space travel.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Sweet

Hurley

et al. 2016

Radiation Research

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“…The major galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particle types include hydrogen (H), helium (He), carbon (C), oxygen (O), neon (Ne), silicon (Si), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) (Norbury et al . ). Among solar energetic particles (SEP), Ca ions are involved in several solar events and astrophysical processes (Bakaldin et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Suitability of Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’ for growth in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: exploring the effect of high‐LET ionising radiation on photosynthesis, leaf structure and fruit traits

et al. 2019

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The realisation of manned space exploration requires the development of Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS). In such self-sufficient closed habitats, higher plants have a fundamental role in air regeneration, water recovery, food production and waste recycling. In the space environment, ionising radiation represents one of the main constraints to plant growth.• In this study, we explore whether low doses of heavy ions, namely Ca 25 Gy, delivered at the seed stage, may induce positive outcomes on growth and functional traits in plants of Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Microtom'. After irradiation of seed, plant growth was monitored during the whole plant life cycle, from germination to fruit ripening. Morphological parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, leaf anatomical functional traits and antioxidant production in leaves and fruits were analysed.• Our data demonstrate that irradiation of seeds with 25 Gy Ca ions does not prevent achievement of the seed-to-seed cycle in 'Microtom', and induces a more compact plant size compared to the control. Plants germinated from irradiated seeds show better photochemical efficiency than controls, likely due to the higher amount of D1 protein and photosynthetic pigment content. Leaves of these plants also had smaller cells with a lower number of chloroplasts. The dose of 25 Gy Ca ions is also responsible for positive outcomes in fruits: although developing a lower number of berries, plants germinated from irradiated seeds produce larger berries, richer in carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins than controls.• These specific traits may be useful for 'Microtom' cultivation in BLSS in space, in so far as the crew members could benefit from fresh food richer in functional compounds that can be directly produced on board.Plant Biology 21 (2019) 615-626

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“…While these GCR simulation experiments are crucial to understanding the effects of HZE particles on brain and behavior, the effects of individual particles on the central nervous system (CNS) may vary depending on dose and energy (9). In fact, understanding how individual particles alter both brain and behavior will enhance efforts to accurately model and predict how the GCR spectrum encountered during deep space missions alters brain and behavior (10, 11), particularly in regards to experiments using mission-relevant doses of 0.25 Gy or less (12). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole-Body Exposure to²⁸Si-Radiation Dose-Dependently Disrupts Dentate Gyrus Neurogenesis and Proliferation in the Short Term and New Neuron Survival and Contextual Fear Conditioning in the Long Term

et al. 2017

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Astronauts traveling to Mars will be exposed to chronic low doses of galactic cosmic space radiation, which contains highly charged, high-energy (HZE) particles. 56Fe-HZE-particle exposure decreases hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenesis and disrupts hippocampal function in young adult rodents, raising the possibility of impaired astronaut cognition and risk of mission failure. However, far less is known about how exposure to other HZE particles, such as 28Si, influences hippocampal neurogenesis and function. To compare the influence of 28Si exposure on indices of neurogenesis and hippocampal function with previous studies on 56Fe exposure, 9-week-old C57BL/6J and Nestin-GFP mice (NGFP; made and maintained for 10 or more generations on a C57BL/6J background) received whole-body 28Si-particle-radiation exposure (0, 0.2 and 1 Gy, 300 MeV/n, LET 67 KeV/µ, dose rate 1 Gy/min). For neurogenesis assessment, the NGFP mice were injected with the mitotic marker BrdU at 22 h postirradiation and brains were examined for indices of hippocampal proliferation and neurogenesis, including Ki67+, BrdU+, BrdU+NeuN+ and DCX+ cell numbers at short- and long-term time points (24 h and 3 months postirradiation, respectively). In the short-term group, stereology revealed fewer Ki67+, BrdU+ and DCX+ cells in 1-Gy-irradiated group relative to nonirradiated control mice, fewer Ki67+ and DCX+ cells in 0.2 Gy group relative to control group and fewer BrdU+ and DCX+ cells in 1 Gy group relative to 0.2 Gy group. In contrast to the clearly observed radiation-induced, dose-dependent reductions in the short-term group across all markers, only a few neurogenesis indices were changed in the long-term irradiated groups. Notably, there were fewer surviving BrdU+ cells in the 1 Gy group relative to 0- and 0.2-Gy-irradiated mice in the long-term group. When the short- and long-term groups were analyzed by sex, exposure to radiation had a similar effect on neurogenesis indices in male and female mice, although only male mice showed fewer surviving BrdU+ cells in the long-term group. Fluorescent immunolabeling and confocal phenotypic analysis revealed that most surviving BrdU+ cells in the long-term group expressed the neuronal marker NeuN, definitively confirming that exposure to 1 Gy 28Si radiation decreased the number of surviving adult-generated neurons in male mice relative to both 0- and 0.2-Gy-irradiated mice. For hippocampal function assessment, 9-week-old male C57BL/6J mice received whole-body 28Si-particle exposure and were then assessed long-term for performance on contextual and cued fear conditioning. In the context test the animals that received 0.2 Gy froze less relative to control animals, suggesting decreased hippocampal-dependent function. However, in the cued fear conditioning test, animals that received 1 Gy froze more during the pretone portion of the test, relative to controls and 0.2-Gy-irradiated mice, suggesting enhanced anxiety. Compared to previously reported studies, these data suggest that 28Si-radiation exposure damag...

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Galactic cosmic ray simulation at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

Cited by 116 publications

References 59 publications

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Suitability of Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’ for growth in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: exploring the effect of high‐LET ionising radiation on photosynthesis, leaf structure and fruit traits

Whole-Body Exposure to²⁸Si-Radiation Dose-Dependently Disrupts Dentate Gyrus Neurogenesis and Proliferation in the Short Term and New Neuron Survival and Contextual Fear Conditioning in the Long Term

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Galactic cosmic ray simulation at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

Cited by 116 publications

References 59 publications

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Neurogenic Effects of Low-Dose Whole-Body HZE (Fe) Ion and Gamma Irradiation

Suitability of Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Microtom’ for growth in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: exploring the effect of high‐LET ionising radiation on photosynthesis, leaf structure and fruit traits

Whole-Body Exposure to28Si-Radiation Dose-Dependently Disrupts Dentate Gyrus Neurogenesis and Proliferation in the Short Term and New Neuron Survival and Contextual Fear Conditioning in the Long Term

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Whole-Body Exposure to²⁸Si-Radiation Dose-Dependently Disrupts Dentate Gyrus Neurogenesis and Proliferation in the Short Term and New Neuron Survival and Contextual Fear Conditioning in the Long Term