Hibernation and Radioprotection: Gene Expression in the Liver and Testicle of Rats Irradiated under Synthetic Torpor.

ABSTRACT: Hibernation has been proposed as a tool for human space travel. In recent years, a procedure to induce a metabolic state known as "synthetic torpor" in non-hibernating mammals was successfully developed. Synthetic torpor may not only be an efficient method to spare resources and reduce psychological problems in long-term exploratory-class missions, but may also represent a countermeasure against cosmic rays. Here we show the preliminary results from an experiment in rats exposed to ionizing radiation in normothermic conditions or synthetic torpor. Animals were irradiated with 3 Gy X-rays and organs were collected 4 h after exposure. Histological analysis of liver and testicle showed a reduced toxicity in animals irradiated in torpor compared to controls irradiated at normal temperature and

SUBMITTER: Tinganelli W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6359347 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature