Speaker
Description
The study of neurobiological effects of accelerated protons is an important task in medical and space radiation biology. Proton irradiation of the body (e.g., as a result of solar proton events) can lead to a range of neurophysiological, hormonal, and morphological alterations in tissues, as well as shifts in microbiota composition. The relationship between these changes and disturbances of psycho-emotional responses during manned spaceflight must be assessed in order to develop the most effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for radiation-induced damage. In this study, behavioral responses of Sprague Dawley rats were evaluated, including learning ability, spatial memory, anxiety level, and exploratory activity. For histological analysis, brain and small intestine tissue samples were collected. Following whole-body proton irradiation at a dose of 3 Gy, the animals exhibited reduced learning ability and a series of psycho-emotional disturbances. Morphological changes in small intestine tissues and permeability were assessed using hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining for zonulin.
