Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
07:32
Analysis of Cardiac Contractile Dysfunction and Ca2+ Transients in Rodent Myocytes
Published on: May 25, 2022
1.5K
Effects of Proton Therapy on Cardiac Fibrosis, Calcium Homeostasis, and AQP4 Expression in Hypergravity-Exposed Rats
Hyewon Park1, Bokyeong Park1, Kyu-Sung Kim2
1Department of Cardiology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 12, 2025
Summary
Proton therapy may protect the heart from hypergravity-induced cardiac disease. Studies show proton irradiation mitigated fibrosis and calcium imbalance in rats exposed to hypergravity, suggesting potential benefits for astronaut cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Radiation Biology
- Space Medicine
Background:
- Proton therapy is used for tumors, but its cardiac effects are unclear.
- Understanding proton irradiation's molecular and functional cardiac responses is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate proton therapy's effects on cardiac disease.
- Compare proton effects on hearts under hypergravity conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Sprague Dawley rats in four groups: control, proton irradiation, hypergravity, and combined exposure.
- Analyzed cardiac AQP4, calcium homeostasis, and fibrosis markers (TGF-ꞵ1, MMP9, MMP2) via Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Proton irradiation alone showed no cardiac changes versus controls.
- Hypergravity increased cardiac fibrosis markers (TGF-ꞵ1, MMP9, MMP2).
- Combined hypergravity and proton therapy reduced fibrosis markers, improved calcium homeostasis, and affected AQP4 levels.
Conclusions:
- Hypergravity induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats.
- Proton therapy mitigated hypergravity-induced cardiac disease markers.
- Findings suggest proton therapy could prevent astronaut heart disease.
