Does radiation associated with spaceflight cause fibrotic tissue formation in uterine tissue?
Abstract
It is well documented that radiation exposure often leads to fibrotic buildup in tissues. It is also well documented that spaceflight in low earth orbit (LEO) is associated with exposure to radiation higher than that on the planet’s surface. To determine whether or not the radiation exposure during spaceflight causes fibrotic tissue formation in uterine tissue, female mice were subjected to simulated microgravity and/or low dose radiation (LDR). Age appropriate (6 month old) female mice were subjected to simulated spaceflight environment conditions. The microgravity of spaceflight was simulated using anti-orthostatic tail suspension (AOS) for up to 21 days. Anti-orthostatic suspension has long been used as the standard for simulating the fluid shifts and physiological stress aspects of microgravity. Subsets of female mice were exposed to whole body gamma-irradiation (0.4Gy at 0.01 cGy/hr) using 57Co plates to simulate the LDR of spaceflight. For completeness of study animals were divided into four subgroups: baseline controls, low-dose-rate (LDR) γ-irradiation, unloading via anti-orthostatic tail suspension, and LDR plus tail suspension. Three variations of the study were conducted: mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 1 month, mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 4 months, and mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 9 months. Uterine tissues were harvested and paraffin embedded using standard embedding protocols. Tissues were sectioned at 4 µm and mounted on glass microscope slides. The slides were subsequently stained using a Mason’s Trichrome staining technique, specifically to visualize any fibrotic tissue that may have formed. At the time of the writing of this abstract no correlation was found linking treatment type to an increase in fibrotic tissue, but more extensive scrutiny of the tissue is needed.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
55
Presentation Type
Poster
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Allan Forsman
Does radiation associated with spaceflight cause fibrotic tissue formation in uterine tissue?
Culp Ballroom 316
It is well documented that radiation exposure often leads to fibrotic buildup in tissues. It is also well documented that spaceflight in low earth orbit (LEO) is associated with exposure to radiation higher than that on the planet’s surface. To determine whether or not the radiation exposure during spaceflight causes fibrotic tissue formation in uterine tissue, female mice were subjected to simulated microgravity and/or low dose radiation (LDR). Age appropriate (6 month old) female mice were subjected to simulated spaceflight environment conditions. The microgravity of spaceflight was simulated using anti-orthostatic tail suspension (AOS) for up to 21 days. Anti-orthostatic suspension has long been used as the standard for simulating the fluid shifts and physiological stress aspects of microgravity. Subsets of female mice were exposed to whole body gamma-irradiation (0.4Gy at 0.01 cGy/hr) using 57Co plates to simulate the LDR of spaceflight. For completeness of study animals were divided into four subgroups: baseline controls, low-dose-rate (LDR) γ-irradiation, unloading via anti-orthostatic tail suspension, and LDR plus tail suspension. Three variations of the study were conducted: mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 1 month, mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 4 months, and mice subjected to the experimental protocol and sacrificed after 9 months. Uterine tissues were harvested and paraffin embedded using standard embedding protocols. Tissues were sectioned at 4 µm and mounted on glass microscope slides. The slides were subsequently stained using a Mason’s Trichrome staining technique, specifically to visualize any fibrotic tissue that may have formed. At the time of the writing of this abstract no correlation was found linking treatment type to an increase in fibrotic tissue, but more extensive scrutiny of the tissue is needed.
