Spaceflight induces oxidative damage to blood‐brain barrier integrity in a mouse model

Quantitative assessment of brain tissue demonstrated that spaceflight caused an up to 2.2-fold increase in apoptosis in the hippocampus compared to the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis of the mouse brain revealed an increased expression of aquaporin4 (AQP4) in the flight hippocampus compared to the controls. There was also a significant increase in the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and a decrease in the expression of the BBB-related tight junction protein, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1).

These results indicate a disturbance of BBB integrity. Quantitative proteomic analysis showed significant alterations in pathways responsible for neurovascular integrity, mitochondrial function, neuronal structure, protein/organelle transport, and metabolism in the brain after spaceflight. Changes in pathways associated with adhesion and molecular remodeling were also documented.

These data indicate that long-term spaceflight may have pathological and functional consequences associated with neurovascular damage and late neurodegeneration. This study derives results from Microscopy assays.