Results for “RAT” — Page 4

DOE OSTI2024

The Kinematics of Proal Chewing in Rats

Chewing kinematics are well-documented in several mammal species with fused mandibular symphyses, but relatively understudied in mammals with an unfused symphysis, despite the fact that more than half of extant Mammalia have an unfused mandibular symphysis. The Wistar brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is widely used in human health research, including studies of mastication or neurological studies where mastication is the output behavior. These animals are known to have unfused mandibular symphyses and proal jaw (rostrocaudal) motion during occlusion, but the lack of high resolution, 3-dimensional analysis of rat chewing leaves the functional significance of symphyseal mobility unknown. We used biplanar fluoroscopy and the X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology workflow to quantify chewing kinematics in 3 brown rats, quantifying overall jaw kinematics, including motions about the temporomandibular joint and unfused mandibular symphysis. During occlusion, the teeth and the mandibular condyle translate almost exclusively anteriorly (proal) during occlusion, with little motion in any other degrees of freedom. At the symphysis, we observed minimal flexion throughout the chew cycle. Overall, there are fundamental differences in jaw kinematics between rats and other mammals and therefore rats are not an appropriate proxy for ancestral mammal jaw mechanics. Additionally, differences between humans and rat chewing kinematics must be considered when using rats as a clinical model for pathological feeding research.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1982

Short term /1 and 3 day/ cardiovascular adjustments to suspension antiorthostasis in rats

Antiorthostasis (AO) results in responses reflective of thoracic vessel loading. Initial findings included fluid and electrolyte shifts (diuresis and natriuresis) in AO but not in orthostatic (O) rats. This study aims at obtaining supportive evidence for cardiovascular responses, E.g., blood pressure and related parameters, in light of the original hypothesis. Tilting rats rapidly head-up from either horizontal (O) or head-down (AO) positions was used to assess cardiovascular sensitivities. O and AO rats were used after 1 or 3 days of suspension. Rats were controls (C), pre-tilted O and AO, tilted O and AO (rapid head-up 70-80 deg); post-tilted (to original postures). MAP in C rats was 108 +2 mmHg, in O, (117 + or - 1.02) and AO, (120 + or - 0.58). MAP, diastolic pressure (DP) and pulse pressure were consistently elevated in AO rats on day 3. With rapid head-up tilt, only MAP and DP showed significant increases. These changes were seen as cardiovascular responses to AO and support further use of this rat model for AO studies.

Musacchia, X. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Thermoregulation in cold- and noncold-acclimated rats cold exposed in hypergravic fields

The effect of hypergravity on thermoregulation processes is investigated experimentally in rats. Hooded male Long-Evans rats were kept for 6 weeks at 5 or 23 C (cold-acclimated and noncold-acclimated groups, CA and NCA) prior to testing. One test protocol comprised sequential 1-h exposures to 23 C at 1 G, 23 C at 3 G (in a 2.1-m radius centrifuge; -Gx), 8 C at 3 G, 8 C at 1 G, and finally 23 C at 1 G, with continuous measurement of the oxygen consumption. In a second protocol, restrained rats were exposed to 23 C at 1 G, 23 C at 3 G, and 10 C at 3 G, and core temperature changes were monitored. The results are presented in graphs and a table. Oxygen consumption doubled in both CA and NCA rats on exposure to cold at 1 G, but at 3 G NCA consumption decreased while CA consumption remained high. The CA rats were also more able to maintain core temperature at 3 G than the NCA rats. These differences are attributed to the nonshivering thermogenic processes developed in CA rats, which appear to be unaffected by hypergravity.

Horowitz, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Core temperature of tailless rats exposed to centrifugation

The role of the tail in the altered thermoregulation of rats during acute exposure to hypergravity was investigated, using groups of rats of two ages: 55 days (young) and 138 days (old). Rectal and foot temperature changes were measured in intact and tailless rats subjected to 1 h centrifugation of 2.8 G, with preceding (1 h) and following (1-3 h) 1 G periods. At 22 C, the loss of body heat from the tail per se does not measurably contribute to the hypothermia induced by hypergravity. However, the heat loss from the feet was greater in the tailless rats than in the intact rats from the young group of animals, although there was no significant difference between the tailless and intact rats in the old animal group. It is concluded that the inhibition of heat production is a significant factor in the hypothermia of centrifuged tailless rats, as it has been previously shown to be in the intact animals.

Monson, C. B.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Increased gluconeogenesis in rats exposed to hyper-G stress

The effect of glucogenesis on the plasma glucose and liver glycogen of rats exposed to hyper-G stress is investigated. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats are injected with C-14 lactate, alanine, of glycerol, and six of the rats are exposed to 3.1 G for 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 hr. The plasma glucose and liver glycogen of the centrifuged and noncentrifuged rats are analyzed. A significant increase in the C-14 incorporation of the substrate into the plasma glucose and liver glycogen is observed in the centrifuged rats. The injection of 5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, a gluconeogenesis inhibitor, results in a blocked increase in plasma glucose and liver glycogen. The role of epinephrine on the hyperglycemic and liver glycogen responses of centrifuged rats is studied. It is concluded that the initial increase in plasma glucose and liver glycogen in rats exposed to hyper-G stress is the result of an increased rate of gluconeogenesis.

Daligcon, B. C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Experiment K-6-04. Trace element balance in rats during spaceflight

Exposure to microgravity causes alterations in the skeletal and mineral homeostatic systems. Little is known about the effects of flight in an older skeleton; limited data suggest that bone resorption is increased after 5 days but no data are available about other metabolic effects. The response of a more slowly-growing skeleton to microgravity may be different than that of a younger animal, similar to the different responses seen in adolescents and adult humans to immobilization. This experiment was designed to investigate changes occurring in skeletal and mineral homeostatis in these older rats flown for two weeks in space. We may expect that the two portions of the rat vertebra, the vertebral body and the posterior elements, will show different responses to spaceflight. The results of the analyses from this study confirm major differences between portions of the vertebra. The posterior bone is more highly mineralized, evidenced by increased concentration (per unit weight of bone) of calcium (5 percent), phosphorus (6 percent) and osteocalcin (37 percent), similar to the differences seen between proximal and mid humerus in previous studies. The major increase in osteocalcin content indicates the presence of mature, low-turnover bone. The difference between flight and control animals were minimal in these older, slower-growing rats. Mass of whole vertebrae increased 6.2 percent in synchronous rats compared to less than 2 percent in flight rats over the 16 days when compared to basal controls, suggesting a decreased rate of bone growth in flight. Compared to young rats in which vertebral mass increased over 40 percent in 10 days in controls and 20 percent in flight rats, this may be a clear indication that even in the older skeleton bone growth will slow in microgravity.

Cann, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Influence of simulated microgravity on the maximal oxygen consumption of nontrained and trained rats

The effects of microgravity and endurance training (TR) on maximal O2 consumption was investigated in trained and nontrained (NT) rats subjected to head-down suspension (HDS) by comparing maximal O2 consumption, treadmill run time (RT), and mechanical efficiency (ME) of treadmill running in HDS rats, both NT and TR, and in respective cage controls. It was found that HDS for 28 days was associated with significant reduction in absolute maximal O2 consumption in both TR and NT rats. Relative maximal O2 consumption, however, was significantly reduced in TR but not NT rats. Reductions in RT and ME occurring in both TR and NT rats after 28 days of HDS were similar. The TR rats exhibited greater diuretic, natriuretic, and kaliuretic responses to HDS than the NT rats.

Woodman, Christopher R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Effect of chronic d-fenfluramine administration on rat hypothalamic serotonin levels and release

D-fenfluramine, an anorectic agent in rats and man, was administered daily at doses 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg/day for 10 days, and sacrificed 6 days later. Hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT) levels were unchanged in rats receiving 1.25-5 mg/kg/day of d-fenfluramine but reduced by 22 percent (p less than 0.01) at the highest drug dose (10 mg/kg/day); hypothalamic 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were reduced by 15 percent (p less than 0.05) or 28 percent (p less than 0.01) in rats receiving 5 or 10 mg/kg/day of the drug, respectively. Hypothalamic slices prepared from rats which were previously treated with any of the drug doses spontaneously released endogenous 5-HT at rates that did not differ from those of vehicle-treated rats. 5-HT released with electrical field-stimulation was unaffected by prior d-fenfluramine treatment at doses of 1.25-5 mg/kg/day, and was reduced by 20 percent (p less than 0.05) from slices prepared from rats which received 10 mg/kg/day. 5-HIAA efflux was also attenuated by the highest drug dose. These data indicate that chronic administration to rats of customary anorectic doses of d-fenfluramine (i.e. 0.06-1.25 mg/kg) fail to cause long-lasting reductions in brain 5-HT release.

Schaechter, Judith D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Effect of double density caging during Space Shuttle transport of laboratory rats

Male Sprague Dawley rats were housed in groups of four in polycarbonate cages at recommended density and thermal environmental conditions for 14 days prior to testing to ensure uniform acclimation to those conditions. Body weights averaged 286 +/- 7 g at the end of acclimation. Rat cages were assigned randomly to three treatments: (1) 4 rats/polycarbonate cage (877 sq cm, 20.3 cm high, 220 sq cm/rat), (2) 4 rats/mock AEM (MAEM) (620 sq cm, 155 sq cm/rat), and (3) 8 rats/MAEM (620 sq cm, 77.5 sq cm/rat). A comparison between the MAEM-DD and MAEM-SD treatments was done to determine if doubling rat density in AEM's stressed the rats. A comparison among MAEM treatments and the PC treatment was done to determine if any stress indications were due to the AEM. During this density challenge phase, all treatments were maintained at the same thermal environmental conditions (22.5 C and 50 percent RH) for 10 days. After the density challenge phase, half the rats from each group were sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses. The remaining half of the rats were housed at a density of 4 rats/cage in polycarbonate cages at normal thermal environmental conditions for an additional 10 days to determine if there were any differences in responses between treatments after a recovery period. The remaining rats were examined and sacrificed for body tissue and fluid analyses at the end of the recovery phase.

Riskowski, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Decreased femoral arterial flow during simulated microgravity in the rat

To determine whether the blood supply to the hindlimbs of rats is altered by the tail-suspension model of weightlessness, rats were chronically instrumented for the measurement of femoral artery flow. Ultrasonic transit-time flow probes were implanted into 8-wk-old Wistar-Furth rats under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia, and, after 24 h of recovery, flow was measured in the normal ambulatory posture. Next, rats were suspended and flow was measured immediately and then daily over the next 4-7 days. Rats were subsequently returned to normal posture, and flow was monitored daily for 1-3 days. Mean arterial flow decreased immediately on the rats being suspensed and continued to decrease until a new steady state of approximately 60% of control values was attained at 5 days. On the rats returning to normal posture, flow increased to levels observed before suspension. Quantile-quantile plots of blood flow data revealed a decrease in flow during both systole and diastole. The observed decrease in hindlimb blood flow during suspension suggests a possible role in the etiology of muscular atrophy and bone loss in microgravity.

Roer, Robert D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Restoring and Maintaining Bone in Osteopenic Female Rat Skeleton: Changes in Bone Mass and Structure - Part 1

This experiment contains the crucial data for the lose, restore, and maintain (LRM) concept, a practical approach for reversing existing osteoporosis. The LRM concept uses anabolic agents to restore bone mass and architecture (+ phase) and then switches to an agent with the established ability to maintain bone mass, to keep the new bone (+/- phase). The purpose of this study was to learn whether switching to an agent known chiefly for its ability to maintain existing bone mass preserves new bone induced by PGE2, in osteopenic,estrogen-depleted rats. The current study had three phases, the bone loss (-), restore (+), and maintain (+/-) phases. We ovariectomized (OX) or sham ovariectomized (sham-OX) 5.5 month-old female rats (- phase). The OX rats were treated 5 months postovariectomy with 1-6 mg PGE2, per kg/day for 75 days to restore lost cancellous bone mass (+ phase), and then PGE2, treatment was stopped and treatment began with 1 or 5 micro-g/kg of risedronate, a bisphosphonate, twice a week for 60 days (+/- phase). During the loss (-) phase, the cancellous bone volume of the proximal tibial metaphysis in the OX rat fell to 19% of initial and 30% of age-matched control levels. During the restore (+) phase, the cancellous bone volume in OX rats doubled. When PGE2 treatment was stopped, however, and no special maintenance efforts were made during the maintain (+/-) phase, the PGE2-induced cancellous bone disappeared. In contrast, the PGE2-induced cancellous bone persisted when the PGE2 treatment was followed by either a 1 or 5 micro-g treatment of risedronate per kg given twice a week for 60 days during the maintain (+/-) phase. The tibial shaft demonstrated very little cortical bone loss during the loss (-) phase in OX rats. The tibial shaft cortical bone fell some 8%. During the restore (+) phase, new cortical bone in OX rats increased by 22%. When PGE2 treatment was stopped and nothing was given during the maintain (+/-) phase, however, all but the PGE2-induced subperiosteal bone disappeared. In contrast, when PGE2 treatment was stopped and 1 micro-g risedronate per kg twice a week for 60 days was administered during the maintenance (+/-) phase, the PGE2-induced subperiosteal bone and some of the subendocortical bone and marrow trabeculae persisted. When 5 micro-g risedronate per kg was given twice a week, all the PGE2-induced bone persisted. The study shows that most of the new cancellous and cortical bone induced by PGE2, can be maintained for at least 60 days after discontinuing PGE2 by administering enough of the resorption inhibitor, risedronate. The lower dose of risedronate was not adequate to save most of the PGE2-induced endocortical bone.

Tang, Li Ya↗

NASA NTRS1992

Production of New Trabecular Bone in Osteopenic Ovariectomized Rats by Prostaglandin E2

Serum chemistry and bone morphometry of the proximal tibial metaphysis were performed in 3 month-old double fluorescent-labeled, female Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to bilateral ovariectomy or sham surgery for 4 months prior to treatment with 0, 0.3, 1,3, or 6 mg of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/kg/day subcutaneously for 30 days. The 4 month postovariectomized rats possessed an osteopenic proximal tibial metaphysis with 7% trabecular area compared with controls (19%). PGE2 treatment elevated osteocalcin levels and augmented proximal tibial metaphyseal bone area in ovariectomized and sham-operated rats. Osteopenic, ovariectomized rats treated with 6 mg (PGE2)/kg/day for 30 days restored bone area to levels of agematched sham-operated rats. Morphometric analyses showed increased woven and lamellar bone area, fluorescent-labeled perimeter (osteoblastic recruitment), mineral apposition rate (osteoblastic activity), bone formation rate (BFR/BV), and longitudinal bone growth. These dramatic bone changes were all significantly increased at the doseresponse manner. This study showed that in vivo PGE2 is a powerful activator of bone remodeling, it increases both bone resorption and bone formation, and produces an anabolic effect by shifting bone balance to the positive direction. Furthermore, PGE2-induced augmentation of metaphyseal bone area in ovariectomized rats was at least two times greater than in sham-operated rats.

Mori, S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Effects of Caudal Elevation on Testicular Function in Rats: Separation of Effects on Spermatogenesis and Steroidogenesis

A variety of biologic processes are perturbed when exposed to microgravity (space flight) for more than 7 days, including testicular function. Suspension of rats in a special harness (caudal elevation) to induce thoracic pooling of blood fluids and remove the support function of the hind limbs is used to mimic, on earth, the effects of microgravity encountered during space flight. Typically, this induces cryptorchidism in male rats. Three experiments were conducted to differentiate the effects of caudal elevation (30 deg angle) and anatomic location of testes on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. Rats were subjected to caudal elevation for 7 days using either a tail harness or a whole-body harness. Testes of rats fell into the abdominal cavity when a tail harness was used, but ligation of the iguinal canal prevented this repositioning. For rats with abdominal testes, testicular weight was reduced (P less than 0.05) and histology of testes was abnormal; the number of spermatids per gram parenchyma was lower (P less than 0.05) in tail-suspended rats compared with control rats.

Deaver, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS2001

The Effect of Hindlimb Suspension on the Reproductive System of Young Male Rats

Colonization of space requires the ability to reproduce in reduced gravity. Following spaceflight, astronauts and male rats exhibit decreased testosterone (T). This has important implications as T effects the testes and accessory sex glands. To our knowledge no studies have examined the effects of spaceflight on accessory sex glands. Due to the rarity of spaceflight opportunities, ground models have been used to simulate weightlessness. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of long-term (21 d) weightlessness on the reproductive system of male rats. Weightlessness was simulated using the Morey-Holton hindlimb suspension (HLS) model. Age 10 week old, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing (209.0 +9.7g) were randomly assigned (n=10/group) to either HLS or ambulatory control. In HLS rats, testes mass was 33% lower (p<0.05) than ambulatory controls. However, HLS had no effect on prostate (0.65 +0.09g vs 0.69 +0.12g) or seminal vesicles (1.01 +0.35g vs 0.75 +0.22g) weights compared to controls. The absence of effects on plasma T in this study contrasts previous reports of reduced plasma T in HLS male rats. This discrepancy may have been due to the age of animal and timing of sampling. T levels vary dramatically during testes development as well as within normal diurnal cycles. In young HLS rats, testes weight was reduced but not plasma T. Subsequently there was no effect on accessory sex glands. However, this may not be the case in older rats. More studies using standardized methods are needed to gain a better understanding of male reproduction function and capability in weightlessness. Funding provided by NASA.

Tou, Janet↗

NASA NTRS2002

Body Composition of Rats on NASA Rodent Foodbar Versus Purina Lab Chow

The objective of this study is to test the nutritional adequacy of the NASA Rodent Foodbar for long term use for rats. The Foodbar was tested on two rat strains, Sprague Dawley and Fischer 344. Rats were fed either Foodbar or the control diet, Purina Chow #5012. Body composition analysis was performed on a selected number of samples (n=6 for each gender and treatment group) as part of extensive testing of the Foodbar. Water, fat, ash, and protein (and their percentages) for both treatment groups were compared. Sprague Dawley Foodbar fed rats had a lower % protein than Chow fed rats (25.8% vs. 30.0%). In addition, Sprague Dawley females fed Foodbar had higher total fat (42.1g vs. 24.6g) and % fat (16.4% vs. 10.5%), but lower % water (51.3% vs. 54.8%) than Sprague Dawley females fed Chow. Fischer 344 Foodbar fed rats had a lower % water (47.4% vs. 49,3%) and total water (93.2g vs. 99.6g). In addition, Fischer 344 Foodbar males had higher % fat (17.0% vs. 13.8%) and total fat (43.0g vs. 34.7g). The data suggests that body composition of Foodbar fed rats tends to have lower water content but a higher fat content compared to controls, but not all results are the same for different strains and even different genders within the same strains. The data obtained here, in addition to other data, helps provide a better understanding of the nutritional adequacy of the Foodbar and whether the formula may need to be modified.

Yu, Diane Sau Mun↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Gene Expression and Histologic Approach to Study Production and Outflow of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Hindlimb Suspended Rats

INTRODUCTION: The Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is thought to be associated with weightlessness-induced cephalad fluid shift, possibly associated with a chronic elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) during long-duration ISS missions. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and cranial compliance might be involved in the ICP increase. It is not known whether CSF production and/or outflow are altered in microgravity, but changes at the molecular and cellular level in the structures that produce and regulate the transcellular and paracellular secretion and reabsorption of CSF may be relevant. In this study, we used the rat hindlimb suspension (HS) model to examine the relationship between intracranial pressure (ICP) and the cellular responses to the prolonged change in body posture elicited specifically in the choroid plexus (CP). This was evaluated by transcriptomics, histopathology and ultrastructure of the CP and arachnoid villi (AV). METHODS: ICP was measured by telemetry. The morphology, ultrastructure, and gene expression profile of the CP was examined using male 9-month-old Long Evans rats subjected to HS for 14 and 90 days. A subset of animals completing 90-day HS returned to normal posture for 14 and 90 additional days of recovery. All HS rats had age-matched cage controls maintained in normal posture. A group of animals was maintained in conditions of 1% CO2 throughout the entire protocol. The rat brains were carefully removed and preserved for various analyses, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemical analysis of specific targets involved in CSF regulation, and RNA sequencing analysis of laser capture micro-dissected CP tissue from the lateral ventricles. SUMMARY OF RESULTS: The ICP record was limited, which impacted any conclusions derived from the results. However, the ICP of rats in the CO2-enriched atmosphere appeared increased compared to those in a normal air composition. HS of rats resulted in an altered transcriptomics profile in the choroid plexus compared to animals maintained at normal posture. This was observed during both the HS period and during normal posture recovery period following 90 days of suspension. The greatest number of differentially expressed genes was observed at 90 days HS. Elevated CO2 also led to a different transcriptomics profile in the CP. The histology and ultrastructure results should be considered preliminary due to the limited number of samples. Examination of the CP by TEM showed blood vessel congestion and microvilli swelling in the CP, as well as some subpial and periventricular gliosis, but no associations were observed with treatment. There was no evidence of a reduced clearance of b-amyloid in the periventricular, perivascular and subpial regions of the brain in HS animals versus those in normal posture. Immunohistochemical staining of aquaporin 4, showed the localization to the subpial region and ependyma with increased immunoreactivity in the brains of CO2 exposed rats. This work was supported by awards NNX15AW48G to S.Z. Animal tissue and live data was provided under a tissue/data sharing agreement with Dr. Charles Fuller, UC Davis.

S B Zanello↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Gene Expression and Histologic Approach to Study Production and Outflow of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Hindlimb Suspended RATS

INTRODUCTION: The Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is thought to be associated with weightlessness-induced cephalad fluid shift, possibly associated with a chronic elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) during long-duration ISS missions. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and cranial compliance might be involved in the ICP increase. It is not known whether CSF production and/or outflow are altered in microgravity, but changes at the molecular and cellular level in the structures that produce and regulate the transcellular and paracellular secretion and reabsorption of CSF may be relevant. In this study, we used the rat hindlimb suspension (HS) model to examine the relationship between intracranial pressure (ICP) and the cellular responses to the prolonged change in body posture elicited specifically in the choroid plexus (CP). This was evaluated by transcriptomics, histopathology and ultrastructure of the CP and arachnoid villi (AV). METHODS: ICP was measured by telemetry. The morphology, ultrastructure, and gene expression profile of the CP was examined using male 9-month-old Long Evans rats subjected to HS for 14 and 90 days. A subset of animals completing 90-day HS returned to normal posture for 14 and 90 additional days of recovery. All HS rats had age-matched cage controls maintained in normal posture. A group of animals was maintained in conditions of 1% CO2 throughout the entire protocol. The rat brains were carefully removed and preserved for various analyses, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemical analysis of specific targets involved in CSF regulation, and RNA sequencing analysis of laser capture micro-dissected CP tissue from the lateral ventricles. SUMMARY OF RESULTS: The ICP record was limited, which impacted any conclusions derived from the results. However, the ICP of rats in the CO2-enriched atmosphere appeared increased compared to those in a normal air composition. HS of rats resulted in an altered transcriptomics profile in the choroid plexus compared to animals maintained at normal posture. This was observed during both the HS period and during normal posture recovery period following 90 days of suspension. The greatest number of differentially expressed genes was observed at 90 days HS. Elevated CO2 also led to a different transcriptomics profile in the CP. The histology and ultrastructure results should be considered preliminary due to the limited number of samples. Examination of the CP by TEM showed blood vessel congestion and microvilli swelling in the CP, as well as some subpial and periventricular gliosis, but no associations were observed with treatment. There was no evidence of a reduced clearance of b-amyloid in the periventricular, perivascular and subpial regions of the brain in HS animals versus those in normal posture. Immunohistochemical staining of aquaporin 4, showed the localization to the subpial region and ependyma with increased immunoreactivity in the brains of CO2 exposed rats. This work was supported by awards NNX15AW48G to S.Z. Animal tissue and live data was provided under a tissue/data sharing agreement with Dr. Charles Fuller, UC Davis.

S B Zanello↗

NASA NTRS2004

Effects of diet and exposure to hindlimb suspension on estrous cycling in Sprague-Dawley rats

Various factors can disrupt the female reproductive cycle resulting in subfertility. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether physiological changes associated with exposure to hypogravity disrupt reproductive cycles. The hindlimb suspension (HLS) model was used to simulate the major physiological effects of hypogravity in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Also, to determine whether diet may influence reproductive results, rats were fed purified American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93G or chow diet. Rats (n = 9-11/group) subjected to HLS had lengthened estrous cycles due to prolonged diestrus, indicating hypoestrogenism. Interestingly, HLS rats fed AIN-93G but not chow diet had significantly reduced time spent in estrus and decreased plasma estradiol. Attenuation of hypoestrogenism in the chow-fed rats suggested that diet provided an exogenous source of estrogen. The mechanism involved in the disruption of estrous cycling remains to be determined. HLS increased urinary corticosterone (CORT) levels during the initial 4 days of HLS, suggesting that physiological responses to acute stress may be a potential mechanism in the disruption of estrous cycles. Higher basal urinary CORT was observed in rats fed chow vs. AIN-93G diet. HLS resulted in increased urinary CORT. However, two-way ANOVA indicated a significant HLS effect (P < 0.001) but no effect of HLS x diet effect on urinary CORT levels, suggesting that estrogenic activity associated with the chow diet did not enhance the stress response. The results of this study indicate that HLS, diet, and the combination of HLS and diet influence estrous cycling. This has important implications for future reproductive success in the hypogravity environment of space.

Estrous Cycle/physiology↗