Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice

Abstract The effects of galactic cosmic radiation on reproductive physiology remain largely unknown. We determined the impact of near-continuous low-dose-rate Californium-252 neutron irradiation (1 mGy/day) as a space-relevant analog on litter size and number of resorptions at embryonic day (E) 12.5...

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Main Authors: Jon G. Steller, Rebecca S. Blue, April E. Ronca, Andrew Goodspeed, Theresa L. Powell, Thomas Jansson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:npj Microgravity
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-024-00438-9
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author Jon G. Steller
Rebecca S. Blue
April E. Ronca
Andrew Goodspeed
Theresa L. Powell
Thomas Jansson
author_facet Jon G. Steller
Rebecca S. Blue
April E. Ronca
Andrew Goodspeed
Theresa L. Powell
Thomas Jansson
author_sort Jon G. Steller
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The effects of galactic cosmic radiation on reproductive physiology remain largely unknown. We determined the impact of near-continuous low-dose-rate Californium-252 neutron irradiation (1 mGy/day) as a space-relevant analog on litter size and number of resorptions at embryonic day (E) 12.5 (n = 19 radiated dams, n = 20 controls) and litter size, number of resorptions, fetal growth, and placental signaling and transcriptome (RNA sequencing) at E18.5 (n = 21 radiated dams, n = 20 controls) in pregnant mice. A significantly increased early resorption rate and decreased placental weight were observed in irradiated mice. There were no statistically significant differences in litter size, fetal weight, length, or malformation rate between the groups. Near-continuous radiation had no significant effects on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), endoplasmic reticulum stress or inflammatory signaling, rate of double-stranded DNA breaks, and had minimal effects on gene expression in the placenta. These data suggest that near-continuous, low-level galactic cosmic radiation has a limited impact on pregnancy outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-4b0bc914085f424c97a56fec77c0fc9a2025-08-20T03:03:34ZengNature Portfolionpj Microgravity2373-80652024-12-011011810.1038/s41526-024-00438-9Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in miceJon G. Steller0Rebecca S. Blue1April E. Ronca2Andrew Goodspeed3Theresa L. Powell4Thomas Jansson5University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal MedicineUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, School of Public and Population HealthNASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences DivisionUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Cancer CenterUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive SciencesUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive SciencesAbstract The effects of galactic cosmic radiation on reproductive physiology remain largely unknown. We determined the impact of near-continuous low-dose-rate Californium-252 neutron irradiation (1 mGy/day) as a space-relevant analog on litter size and number of resorptions at embryonic day (E) 12.5 (n = 19 radiated dams, n = 20 controls) and litter size, number of resorptions, fetal growth, and placental signaling and transcriptome (RNA sequencing) at E18.5 (n = 21 radiated dams, n = 20 controls) in pregnant mice. A significantly increased early resorption rate and decreased placental weight were observed in irradiated mice. There were no statistically significant differences in litter size, fetal weight, length, or malformation rate between the groups. Near-continuous radiation had no significant effects on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), endoplasmic reticulum stress or inflammatory signaling, rate of double-stranded DNA breaks, and had minimal effects on gene expression in the placenta. These data suggest that near-continuous, low-level galactic cosmic radiation has a limited impact on pregnancy outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-024-00438-9
spellingShingle Jon G. Steller
Rebecca S. Blue
April E. Ronca
Andrew Goodspeed
Theresa L. Powell
Thomas Jansson
Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
npj Microgravity
title Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
title_full Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
title_fullStr Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
title_full_unstemmed Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
title_short Impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
title_sort impact of near continuous low dose rate neutron irradiation on pregnancy outcomes in mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-024-00438-9
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