Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239.
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523.
Radiat Res. 2021 Jul 1;196(1):31-39. doi: 10.1667/RADE-20-00228.1.
During space missions, astronauts experience acute and chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposures. Given the clear gap of knowledge regarding such exposures, we assessed the effects acute and chronic exposure to a mixed field of neutrons and photons and single or fractionated simulated galactic cosmic ray exposure (GCRsim) on behavioral and cognitive performance in mice. In addition, we assessed the effects of an aspirin-containing diet in the presence and absence of chronic exposure to a mixed field of neutrons and photons. In C3H male mice, there were effects of acute radiation exposure on activity levels in the open field containing objects. In addition, there were radiation-aspirin interactions for effects of chronic radiation exposure on activity levels and measures of anxiety in the open field, and on activity levels in the open field containing objects. There were also detrimental effects of aspirin and chronic radiation exposure on the ability of mice to distinguish the familiar and novel object. Finally, there were effects of acute GCRsim on activity levels in the open field containing objects. Activity levels were lower in GCRsim than sham-irradiated mice. Thus, acute and chronic irradiation to a mixture of neutrons and photons and acute and fractionated GCRsim have differential effects on behavioral and cognitive performance of C3H mice. Within the limitations of our study design, aspirin does not appear to be a suitable countermeasure for effects of chronic exposure to space radiation on cognitive performance.
在太空任务中，宇航员会经历急性和慢性的低剂量率辐射暴露。鉴于对这种暴露的知识明显存在差距，我们评估了急性和慢性暴露于混合中子和光子场以及单次或分次模拟的银河宇宙射线暴露（GCRsim）对小鼠行为和认知表现的影响。此外，我们还评估了在存在和不存在慢性暴露于混合中子和光子场的情况下，含阿司匹林饮食的影响。在 C3H 雄性小鼠中，急性辐射暴露对包含物体的开阔场中的活动水平有影响。此外，慢性辐射暴露对活动水平和开阔场焦虑测量的影响，以及对包含物体的开阔场中的活动水平，存在辐射-阿司匹林相互作用。阿司匹林和慢性辐射暴露对小鼠区分熟悉和新颖物体的能力也有不利影响。最后，急性 GCRsim 对包含物体的开阔场中的活动水平有影响。与假照射小鼠相比，GCRsim 组的活动水平较低。因此，急性和慢性中子和光子混合辐射以及急性和分次 GCRsim 对 C3H 小鼠的行为和认知表现有不同的影响。在我们的研究设计的限制内，阿司匹林似乎不是预防慢性太空辐射对认知表现影响的合适对策。
