Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Cognitive Performance of Ovariectomized Female Rats Exposed to Space Radiation.docVIP

Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 2013, 3, 67-73 /10.4236/jbbs.2013.31007 Published Online February 2013 (/journal/jbbs) Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Cognitive Performance of Ovariectomized Female Rats Exposed to Space Radiation Bernard M. Rabin , Kirsty L. Carrihill-Knoll , Lauren V. Long , 1* 1 1 1 2 Steven C. Pitts , Barbara Shukitt-Hale 1 Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, USA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, USDA-ARS, Tufts University, Boston, USA * Email: rabin@ 2 Received December 14, 2012; revised January 15, 2013; accepted January 22, 2013 ABSTRACT On exploratory class missions to other planets astronauts will be exposed to types and doses of radiation that are not experienced in low earth orbit. While it is likely that the crew will consist of both male and female astronauts, there has been little research on the effects of exposure to space radiation on central nervous system function and cognitive per- formance in female subjects. Because estrogen can function as a neuroprotectant, the present experiments were de- signed to evaluate whether or not the presence or absence of estrogen at the time of irradiation would affect the suscep- tibility to the neurocognitive effects of exposure to 56 Fe particles in female rats. Capsules containing 17β-estradiol or Fe particles (50 - 200 cGy, 1000 MeV/n). vehicle were implanted in ovariectomized rats three days prior to exposure 56 Cognitive performance was evaluated using novel object recognition memory to measure learning and memory and operant responding on an ascending fixed-ratio schedule to measure changes in motivation and in the responsiveness to environmental contingencies. The results indicated the estrogen does not function