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Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
Published on: January 13, 2019
ASTROREPOMICS: A curated transcriptomic database for reproductive biology in space
Chun-Fan Lung1, Kun-I Lin2,3, Yi-Chiung Hsu1,4,5,6
1Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Spaceflight imposes substantial physiological stress on reproductive systems, yet relevant transcriptomic data remain fragmented across repositories. To address this need, we developed ASTROREPOMICS, a web-based platform that integrates 17 rigorously normalized and batch-corrected transcriptomic datasets spanning multiple species and reproductive tissues. The platform supports reproducible cross-study and cross-species analyses through standardized metadata and an intuitive user interface. We highlight its utility through two example analyses: (1) irradiated mouse sperm exhibited suppression of RNA splicing and protein-processing pathways alongside activation of interferon- and GPCR-associated programs; and (2) a multi-species intersected-DEG assessment between irradiated rat mammary tissue and microgravity-exposed zebrafish embryos uncovered conserved signatures involving RNA metabolism, cytokine signaling, and angiogenesis. By consolidating dispersed datasets and offering tailored analytical capabilities, ASTROREPOMICS provides a centralized resource for hypothesis generation and strengthens the research infrastructure needed to advance reproductive health studies in space, supporting long-term efforts to safeguard fertility during deep-space exploration.
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