Effects of Sex and Gender on Adaptation to Space: Behavioral Health

Goel, Namni; BaleTracy, L; Neill, EppersonC.; KornsteinSusan, G; LeonGloria, R; PalinkasLawrence, A; StusterJack, W; DingesDavid, F

doi:10.1089/jwh.2014.4911

Cited by 40 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Moreover, the cardiovascular system is impacted by circadian rhythm and spaceflight leads to significant alterations in heart rate [ 156 , 157 ], blood pressure [ 158 ] and cardiovascular rhythms [ 159 ]. Similar observations have been made in animal models [ 160 , 161 , 162 ] and in human ground-based analogs such as the 520-d Mars mission [ 163 ]; and sex-based differences have been observed between astronauts [ 164 ]. Upon arrival on the Moon and Mars, astronauts will experience yet new light-dark cycles, and new ground-based models should now investigate the coupling effect of reduced loading and altered circadian rhythms to develop new and effective countermeasures.…”

Section: Outstanding Questionssupporting

confidence: 68%

Approaching Gravity as a Continuum Using the Rat Partial Weight-Bearing Model

Mortreux

Rosa‐Caldwell

2020

Life

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For decades, scientists have relied on animals to understand the risks and consequences of space travel. Animals remain key to study the physiological alterations during spaceflight and provide crucial information about microgravity-induced changes. While spaceflights may appear common, they remain costly and, coupled with limited cargo areas, do not allow for large sample sizes onboard. In 1979, a model of hindlimb unloading (HU) was successfully created to mimic microgravity and has been used extensively since its creation. Four decades later, the first model of mouse partial weight-bearing (PWB) was developed, aiming at mimicking partial gravity environments. Return to the Lunar surface for astronauts is now imminent and prompted the need for an animal model closer to human physiology; hence in 2018, our laboratory created a new model of PWB for adult rats. In this review, we will focus on the rat model of PWB, from its conception to the current state of knowledge. Additionally, we will address how this new model, used in conjunction with HU, will help implement new paradigms allowing scientists to anticipate the physiological alterations and needs of astronauts. Finally, we will discuss the outstanding questions and future perspectives in space research and propose potential solutions using the rat PWB model.

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Section: Outstanding Questionssupporting

confidence: 68%

Approaching Gravity as a Continuum Using the Rat Partial Weight-Bearing Model

Mortreux

Rosa‐Caldwell

2020

Life

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“…This assumption is corroborated by a study that suggested gender differences with a deteriorated sleep quality in women to be become apparent under the impression of anxiety and depression [ 66 ]. This difference between men and women may be important, when considering life and work, not only in polar research stations, but also during long-term missions in space [ 67 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep Quality Changes during Overwintering at the German Antarctic Stations Neumayer II and III: The Gender Factor

et al. 2016

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PurposeAntarctic residence holds many challenges to human physiology, like increased psycho-social tension and altered circadian rhythm, known to influence sleep. We assessed changes in sleep patterns during 13 months of overwintering at the German Stations Neumayer II and III from 2008 to 2014, with focus on gender, as many previous investigations were inconclusive regarding gender-based differences or had only included men.Materials & MethodsTime in bed, sleep time, sleep efficiency, number of arousals, sleep latency, sleep onset, sleep offset, and physical activity level were determined twice per month during seven overwintering campaigns of n = 54 participants (37 male, 17 female) using actimetry. Data were analyzed using polynomial regression and analysis of covariance for change over time with the covariates gender, inhabited station, overwintering season and influence of physical activity and local sunshine radiation.ResultsWe found overall longer times in bed (p = 0.004) and sleep time (p = 0.014) for women. The covariate gender had a significant influence on time in bed (p<0.001), sleep time (p<0.001), number of arousals (p = 0.04), sleep latency (p = 0.04), and sleep onset (p<0.001). Women separately (p = 0.02), but not men (p = 0.165), showed a linear increase in number of arousals. Physical activity decreased over overwintering time for men (p = 0.003), but not for women (p = 0.174). The decline in local sunshine radiation led to a 48 minutes longer time in bed (p<0.001), 3.8% lower sleep efficiency (p<0.001), a delay of 32 minutes in sleep onset (p<0.001), a delay of 54 minutes in sleep offset (p<0.001), and 11% less daily energy expenditure (p<0.001), for all participants in reaction to the Antarctic winter’s darkness-phase.ConclusionsOverwinterings at the Stations Neumayer II and III are associated with significant changes in sleep patterns, with dependences from overwintering time and local sunshine radiation. Gender appears to be an influence, as women showed a declining sleep quality, despite that their physical activity remained unchanged, suggesting other causes such as a higher susceptibility to psycho-social stress and changes in environmental circadian rhythm during long-term isolation in Antarctica.

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“…The basal metabolic rate of both male and female decreased almost linearly with age after 20. However, between ages of 26 and 46, 41 the average ages for astronauts, the basal metabolism reduction was found to be moderate. 42 Finally, for the medical research, sometimes the sampling size is not so big, with statistical results supporting significant differences recorded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Thermal comfort under weightlessness: A physiological prediction

Zhu

Huang

et al. 2020

Indoor and Built Environment

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This study investigated the physiological thermal response of people under simulated weightlessness using a 6° head down bed rest (HDBR) model to ensure the human body functions in the weightlessness way. Thermal responses of six male participants were experimentally determined. The relationship between thermal comfort and heart rate variability (HRV) was also scrutinized. Physiological responses of participants under different environmental conditions were observed including core temperature, sweating, and most importantly, HRV. Elevated core temperatures were observed amongst participants, with a maximum increment of 0.5°C. The sweating of participants under simulated weightlessness was conspicuously retarded, requiring a 2–4°C increase in environmental temperature to start sweating. Body regional differences in the sweating were also observed. The HRV index ‘LF/HF’, which reflects the balance of the autonomous nervous system, was found to vary with the environment and closely associated with the variation in the thermal comfort scores. Participants under simulated weightlessness had higher mean LF/HF when they felt comfortable, and they preferred a warmer environment in comparison to under normal gravity condition. An altered thermoregulation of the human body under simulated weightlessness was indicated by our findings. The use of HRV index could provide a useful prediction of subjective thermal comfort under weightlessness.

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Effects of Sex and Gender on Adaptation to Space: Behavioral Health

Cited by 40 publications

References 51 publications

Approaching Gravity as a Continuum Using the Rat Partial Weight-Bearing Model

Approaching Gravity as a Continuum Using the Rat Partial Weight-Bearing Model

Sleep Quality Changes during Overwintering at the German Antarctic Stations Neumayer II and III: The Gender Factor

Thermal comfort under weightlessness: A physiological prediction

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