The objective of this proposed project is to characterize the effect of Bion-M2 mission on retinal vascular remodeling and visual function. Furthermore, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving oxidative stress-induced vascular response and impaired blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity will be investigated.

Mature male and female mice will be exposed to the spaceflight environment on board Bion-M2 mission for 30 days and compared to that of ground-based control groups. Animals will be sacrificed 3-15 days after return to Earth. Non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) and electroretinography (ERG) will be used to measure intraocular pressure and retinal function before sacrifice. Eyes and brains will be removed for fixed or frozen for ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) imaging, genomic profiling, and immunohistological analysis.

Together, our unique, integrative, quantitative approaches with advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive genomic analysis will provide insight into the cellular mechanism of spaceflight-induced effects on the interaction of parenchymal activity with neurovascular response and provide criteria for risks of functional detriments. Understanding how spaceflight impacts neurovascular remodeling and BRB/BBB function will help focus the approach for more effective countermeasures during human spaceflight and planetary exploration.

The objective of this proposed project is to characterize the effect of Bion-M2 mission on retinal vascular remodeling and visual function. Furthermore, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving oxidative stress-induced vascular response and impaired blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity will be investigated.

Mature male and female mice will be exposed to the spaceflight environment on board Bion-M2 mission for 30 days and compared to that of ground-based control groups. Animals will be sacrificed 3-15 days after return to Earth. Non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) and electroretinography (ERG) will be used to measure intraocular pressure and retinal function before sacrifice. Eyes and brains will be removed for fixed or frozen for ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) imaging, genomic profiling, and immunohistological analysis.

Together, our unique, integrative, quantitative approaches with advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive genomic analysis will provide insight into the cellular mechanism of spaceflight-induced effects on the interaction of parenchymal activity with neurovascular response and provide criteria for risks of functional detriments. Understanding how spaceflight impacts neurovascular remodeling and BRB/BBB function will help focus the approach for more effective countermeasures during human spaceflight and planetary exploration.

NOTE: Per F. Hernandez/ARC, there is no additional progress to submit for this reporting period. The NASA Space Biology Program has indicated that the project is presently on hold (Ed., 2/1/23).

The objective of this proposed project is to characterize the effect of Bion-M2 mission on retinal vascular remodeling and visual function. Furthermore, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving oxidative stress-induced vascular response and impaired blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity will be investigated.

Mature male and female mice will be exposed to the spaceflight environment on board Bion-M2 mission for 30 days and compared to that of ground-based control groups. Animals will be sacrificed 3-15 days after return to Earth. Non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) and electroretinography (ERG) will be used to measure intraocular pressure and retinal function before sacrifice. Eyes and brains will be removed for fixed or frozen for ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) imaging, genomic profiling, and immunohistological analysis.

Together, our unique, integrative, quantitative approaches with advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive genomic analysis will provide insight into the cellular mechanism of spaceflight-induced effects on the interaction of parenchymal activity with neurovascular response and provide criteria for risks of functional detriments. Understanding how spaceflight impacts neurovascular remodeling and BRB/BBB function will help focus the approach for more effective countermeasures during human spaceflight and planetary exploration.

January 2022 Report: Bion-M2 is scheduled for launch in 2023. Due to the nature of the work that involves multiple Principal Investigator (PI) groups and international counterparts, work groups for each subtopic have been identified. Studies and requirements have been presented in our first virtual kickoff meeting.

The objective of this proposed project is to characterize the effect of Bion-M2 mission on retinal vascular remodeling and visual function. Furthermore, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving oxidative stress-induced vascular response and impaired blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity will be investigated.

Mature male and female mice will be exposed to spaceflight environment on board Bion-M2 mission for 30 days and compared to that of ground-based control groups. Animals will be sacrificed 3-15 days after return to Earth. Non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) and electroretinography (ERG) will be used to measure intraocular pressure and retinal function before sacrifice. Eyes and brains will be removed for fixed or frozen for ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) imaging, genomic profiling, and immunohistological analysis.

Together, our unique, integrative, quantitative approaches with advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive genomic analysis will provide insight into the cellular mechanism of spaceflight-induced effects on the interaction of parenchymal activity with neurovascular response and provide criteria for risks of functional detriments. Understanding how spaceflight impacts neurovascular remodeling and BRB/BBB function will help focus the approach for more effective countermeasures during human spaceflight and planetary exploration.

The objective of this proposed project is to characterize the effect of Bion-M2 mission on retinal vascular remodeling and visual function. Furthermore, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving oxidative stress-induced vascular response and impaired blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity will be investigated.

Mature male and female mice will be exposed to spaceflight environment on board Bion-M2 mission for 30 days and compared to that of ground-based control groups. Animals will be sacrificed 3-15 days after return to Earth. Non-invasive intraocular pressure (IOP) and electroretinography (ERG) will be used to measure intraocular pressure and retinal function before sacrifice. Eyes and brains will be removed for fixed or frozen for ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) imaging, genomic profiling, and immunohistological analysis.

Together, our unique, integrative, quantitative approaches with advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive genomic analysis will provide insight into the cellular mechanism of spaceflight-induced effects on the interaction of parenchymal activity with neurovascular response and provide criteria for risks of functional detriments. Understanding how spaceflight impacts neurovascular remodeling and BRB/BBB function will help focus the approach for more effective countermeasures during human spaceflight and planetary exploration.