title: Antioxidant metabolism in Xenopus laevis embryos is affected by stratospheric balloon flight.
abstract: To test the effects of low levels of radiation from space on living organisms, we flew Xenopus laevis embryos at different stages of development on a stratospheric balloon (BI.R.BA mission). After recovery, different parameters were analyzed to assess the effects of flight, with particular regard to oxidative stress damage. Because of failed temperature control during flight, the flight shielded embryos (FC) could not be used for biochemical or morphological comparisons. In contrast, the incubation conditions (i.e. temperature, containers, volumes) for the flight embryos (F) were parallel to those for the ground controls. Mortality data show that younger embryos (16 h) flown on the balloon (F) are more sensitive to radiation exposure than older ones (40 h and 6 days). Exposure during flight lowered the antioxidant potential in all embryos, particularly older ones. These preliminary data demonstrate that flight on a stratospheric balloon might affect antioxidant metabolism, though it is not yet possible to correlate these results with low radiation exposure during flight.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Physiology and Biochemistry G. Esposito, University of Milan, Via D. Trentacoste 2, 20134 Milan, Italy. angelamaria.rizzo@unimi.it
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zava
authors.forename: Gigliola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montorfano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adorni
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cotronei
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000032:analysis; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000528:radiation effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000032:analysis; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis; D013026:Space Flight; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione