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Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
Published on: January 13, 2019
Lymphatic tissue changes in rats flown on Spacelab Life Sciences-2
C C Congdon1, Z Allebban, L A Gibson
1Department of Medical Biology, University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville 37920, USA.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Spaceflight caused temporary changes in rat lymphatic tissues, including thymus and spleen, shortly after landing. This apoptosis-related response was linked to readaptation to gravity, not observed in flight.
Area of Science:
- Space biology
- Immunology
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Spaceflight impacts physiological systems, including the immune system.
- Lymphatic tissues play a crucial role in immune response and adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of spaceflight on rat lymphatic tissues.
- To determine the cellular mechanisms behind observed changes.
- To assess the role of gravitational stress in post-flight immune alterations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of thymus, spleen, lymph node, and bone marrow specimens from rats aboard Spacelab Life Sciences-2.
- Tissue section staining and in situ labeling of fragmented DNA using ApopTag reagents.
- Microscopic examination for tingible body-containing macrophages and apoptotic activity.
Main Results:
- A transient increase in tingible body-containing macrophages was observed in lymphatic tissues hours after landing.
- In situ labeling confirmed apoptosis within these macrophages.
- These changes were not present 9 days post-flight or in rats sampled during flight.
Conclusions:
- Spaceflight induces a transient retrogressive change in lymphatic tissues.
- This change is characterized by apoptosis in macrophages.
- Gravitational stress during readaptation to 1 G is the likely cause of these transient immune alterations.
