The combined effects of X-ray radiation and hindlimb suspension on bone loss.
Outer space is a complex environment with various phenomena that negatively affect bone metabolism, including microgravity and highly energized ionizing radiation. In the present study, we used four groups of male Wistar rats treated with or without four-week hindlimb suspension after 4 Gy of X-rays to test whether there is a combined effect for hindlimb suspension and X-ray radiation. We tested trabecular parameters and some cytokines of the bone as leading indicators of bone metabolism. The results showed that hindlimb suspension and X-ray radiation could cause a significant increase in bone loss. Hindlimb suspension caused a 56.6% bone loss (P = 0.036), while X-ray radiation caused a 30.7% (P = 0.041) bone loss when compared with the control group. The combined factors of hindlimb suspension and X-rays exerted a combined effect on bone mass, with a reduction of 64.8% (P = 0.003).
Department of Space Radiobiology, Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 509 Nanchang Road, Lanzhou, China.
Dan
D
Xu
Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Xin
X
Zhao
Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Yi
Y
Li
Gansu Hualing Biotechnology Research Center, 32 Central West Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Yinli
Y
Ji
Institution of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Jiangyan
J
Zhang
Department of Space Radiobiology, Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 509 Nanchang Road, Lanzhou, China.
Jufang
J
Wang
Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China zhougm@impcas.ac.cn xdxie@lzu.edu.cn.
Xiaodong
X
Xie
Department of Space Radiobiology, Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 509 Nanchang Road, Lanzhou, China zhougm@impcas.ac.cn xdxie@lzu.edu.cn.
Guangming
G
Zhou
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000528:radiation effects; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000235:genetics; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation / Q000009:adverse effects
D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; C584440:NFATC1 protein, rat; D053245:RANK Ligand; C493717:Runx2 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors
X-ray radiation; bone loss; hindlimb suspension; trabecular parameters