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Effects of heavy ions on visual function and electrophysiology of rodents: the ALTEA-MICE projectALTEA-MICE will supplement the ALTEA project on astronauts and provide information on the functional visual impairment possibly induced by heavy ions during prolonged operations in microgravity. Goals of ALTEA-MICE are: (1) to investigate the effects of heavy ions on the visual system of normal and mutant mice with retinal defects; (2) to define reliable experimental conditions for space research; and (3) to develop animal models to study the physiological consequences of space travels on humans. Remotely controlled mouse setup, applied electrophysiological recording methods, remote particle monitoring, and experimental procedures were developed and tested. The project has proved feasible under laboratory-controlled conditions comparable in important aspects to those of astronauts' exposure to particle in space. Experiments are performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratories [BNL] (Upton, NY, USA) and the Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung mbH [GSI]/Biophysik (Darmstadt, FRG) to identify possible electrophysiological changes and/or activation of protective mechanisms in response to pulsed radiation. Offline data analyses are in progress and observations are still anecdotal. Electrophysiological changes after pulsed radiation are within the limits of spontaneous variability under anesthesia, with only indirect evidence of possible retinal/cortical responses. Immunostaining showed changes (e.g. increased expression of FGF2 protein in the outer nuclear layer) suggesting a retinal stress reaction to high-energy particles of potential relevance in space. c2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Document ID
20050194008
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sannita, W. G.
(INFN, Roma, Italy)
Acquaviva, M.
Ball, S. L.
Belli, F.
Bisti, S.
Bidoli, V.
Carozzo, S.
Casolino, M.
Cucinotta, F.
De Pascale, M. P.
Di Fino, L.
Di Marco, S.
Maccarone, R.
Martello, C.
Miller, J.
Narici, L.
Peachey, N. S.
Picozza, P.
Rinaldi, A.
Ruggieri, D.
Saturno, M.
Schardt, D.
Vazquez, M.
Lowenstein, D.
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in space research : the official journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
Volume: 33
Issue: 8
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Center JSC
Non-NASA Center
NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasures
NASA Discipline Radiation Health

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