Space Radiation and Human Exposures, A Primer

Nelson, Gregory A.

doi:10.1667/rr14311.1

Cited by 149 publications

(140 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Our past work using identical irradiation paradigms demonstrated that whole body proton irradiation at the space relevant dose of 0.5 Gy (Cucinotta et al 2014; Nelson 2016) impairs cortical and hippocampus-dependent learning and memory (Parihar et al 2015b). To determine whether similar exposures caused long-term alterations in inhibitory synaptic transmission, paired patch-clamp recordings from identified interneurons and PCs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were performed in acute slices from irradiated and control mice two months after irradiation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we studied the effects of the space relevant dose of 0.5 Gy on key hippocampal microcircuits. We chose to focus on the effect of protons, given that they constitute the vast majority of charged particles in space (Cucinotta et al 2014; Nelson 2016). We carried out our experiments in the hippocampus, because it plays crucial roles in cognitive tasks that include memory consolidation and spatial navigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These fields consist of both charged particles including energetic protons ejected from the sun during solar particle events (SPEs) and galactic cosmic rays comprised of fully ionized atomic nuclei emitted from sources beyond our solar system (Nelson 2016). Recent evidence in rodents demonstrates that exposure to such radiation types can elicit persistent impairments in cortical and hippocampal based learning and memory (Britten et al 2012; Lonart et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neurophysiology of space travel: energetic solar particles cause cell type-specific plasticity of neurotransmission

et al. 2016

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In the not too distant future, humankind will embark on one of its greatest adventures, the travel to distant planets. However, deep space travel is associated with an inevitable exposure to radiation fields. Space-relevant doses of protons elicit persistent disruptions in cognition and neuronal structure. However, whether space-relevant irradiation alters neurotransmission is unknown. Within the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for cognition, perisomatic inhibitory control of pyramidal cells (PCs) is supplied by two distinct cell types, the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1)-expressing basket cells (CB1BCs) and parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons (PVINs). Mice subjected to low-dose proton irradiation were analyzed using electrophysiological, biochemical and imaging techniques months after exposure. In irradiated mice, GABA release from CB1BCs onto PCs was dramatically increased. This effect was abolished by CB1 blockade, indicating that irradiation decreased CB1-dependent tonic inhibition of GABA release. These alterations in GABA release were accompanied by decreased levels of the major CB1 ligand 2-arachidonoylglycerol. In contrast, GABA release from PVINs was unchanged, and the excitatory connectivity from PCs to the interneurons also underwent cell type-specific alterations. These results demonstrate that energetic charged particles at space-relevant low doses elicit surprisingly selective long-term plasticity of synaptic microcircuits in the hippocampus. The magnitude and persistent nature of these alterations in synaptic function are consistent with the observed perturbations in cognitive performance after irradiation, while the high specificity of these changes indicates that it may be possible to develop targeted therapeutic interventions to decrease the risk of adverse events during interplanetary travel.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00429-016-1345-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neurophysiology of space travel: energetic solar particles cause cell type-specific plasticity of neurotransmission

et al. 2016

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“…It is well known that the radiation field in free space is one of the most complex natural radiation fields consisting of contributions from Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) and protons due to sporadic Solar Particle Events (SPE) (Nelson 2016). These two sources contribute to the radiation load as, for example, on the way to Mars and can lead to dose equivalent values only from GCR exposure of up to 1.84 mSv/day (Zeitlin et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DOSIS & DOSIS 3D: long-term dose monitoring onboard the Columbus Laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS)

Berger

Przybyla

Matthiä

et al. 2016

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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The radiation environment encountered in space differs in nature from that on Earth, consisting mostly of highly energetic ions from protons up to iron, resulting in radiation levels far exceeding the ones present on Earth for occupational radiation workers. Since the beginning of the space era, the radiation exposure during space missions has been monitored with various active and passive radiation instruments. Also onboard the International Space Station (ISS), a number of area monitoring devices provide data related to the spatial and temporal variation of the radiation field in and outside the ISS. The aim of the DOSIS (2009DOSIS ( -2011 and the DOSIS 3D (2012-ongoing) experiments was and is to measure the radiation environment within the European Columbus Laboratory of the ISS. These measurements are, on the one hand, performed with passive radiation detectors mounted at 11 locations within Columbus for the determination of the spatial distribution of the radiation field parameters and, on the other, with two active radiation detectors mounted at a fixed position inside Columbus for the determination of the temporal variation of the radiation field parameters. Data measured with passive radiation detectors showed that the absorbed dose values inside the Columbus Laboratory follow a pattern, based on the local shielding configuration of the radiation detectors, with minimum dose values observed in the year 2010 of 195-270 lGy/day and maximum values observed in the year 2012 with values ranging from 260 to 360 lGy/day. The absorbed dose is modulated by (a) the variation in solar activity and (b) the changes in ISS altitude.

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“…The crew of future missions will face hazards to human health (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) . Among these hazards is exposure to galactic cosmic radiation (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) which includes a spectrum of high-(H) atomic number (Z) and high-energy (E) particles such as 56 Fe and 28 Si. Fast-moving HZE particles cannot be effectively blocked by modern spacecraft shielding (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-domain cognitive assessment of male mice reveals whole body exposure to space radiation is not detrimental to high-level cognition and actually improves pattern separation

Whoolery

Yun

Reynolds

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Astronauts on interplanetary space missions -such as to Mars -will be exposed to space radiation, a spectrum of highly-charged, fast-moving particles that includes 56 Fe and 28 Si. Earth-based preclinical studies with mature, "astronaut-aged" rodents show space radiation decreases performance in lowand some high-level cognitive tasks. Given the prevalence of touchscreens in astronaut training and in-mission assessment, and the ability of rodent touchscreen tasks to assess the functional integrity of brain circuits and multiple cognitive domains in a non-aversive way, it is surprising the effect of space radiation on rodent touchscreen performance is unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, 6-month-old C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to whole-body space radiation and assessed on a touchscreen battery starting 1-month later. Relative to Sham, 56 Fe irradiation did not overtly change performance on tasks of visual discrimination, reversal learning, rule-based, or object-spatial paired associates learning, suggesting preserved functional integrity of supporting brain circuits.Surprisingly, 56 Fe irradiation led to better performance on a dentate gyrus-reliant task of pattern separation ability. Irradiated mice discriminated similar visual cues in ~40% fewer days and ~40% more accurately than control mice. Improved pattern separation was not touchscreen-, radiation-particle, or neurogenesis-dependent, as both 56 Fe and 28 Si irradiation led to faster context discrimination (e.g. Sham Block 5 vs. 56 Fe Block 2) in a non-touchscreen task and 56 Fe led to fewer new dentate gyrus neurons relative to Sham. These data urge revisitation of the broadly-held view that space radiation is detrimental to cognition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAstronauts on an interplanetary mission -such as to Mars -will be unavoidably exposed to galactic cosmic radiation, a spectrum of highly-charged, fast-moving particles. Rodent studies suggest space radiation is detrimental to cognition. However, here we show this is not universally true. Mature mice that received whole body exposure to Mars-relevant space radiation perform similarly to control mice on high-level cognitive tasks, reflecting the functional integrity of key neural circuits. Even more surprisingly, irradiated mice perform better than controls in both appetitive and aversive tests of pattern separation, a mission-critical task reliant on dentate gyrus integrity. Notably, improved pattern separation was not touchscreen-, radiation-particle-, or neurogenesis-dependent. Our work urges revisitation of the generally-accepted conclusion that space radiation is detrimental to cognition.3 RESULTS Mice exposed to whole body 56 Fe radiation demonstrate overall normal perceptual discrimination, association learning, and cognitive flexibility in touchscreen testing.Whole body 56 Fe IRR was delivered via fractionation (Frac; 3 exposures of 6.7 cGy every other day, total 20 cGy) to male C57BL/6J mice at 6 mon of age. This total dose is submaximal to that predicted for a Mars mission (9, 66) , and the fr...

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Space Radiation and Human Exposures, A Primer

Cited by 149 publications

References 23 publications

Neurophysiology of space travel: energetic solar particles cause cell type-specific plasticity of neurotransmission

Neurophysiology of space travel: energetic solar particles cause cell type-specific plasticity of neurotransmission

DOSIS & DOSIS 3D: long-term dose monitoring onboard the Columbus Laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS)

Multi-domain cognitive assessment of male mice reveals whole body exposure to space radiation is not detrimental to high-level cognition and actually improves pattern separation

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