The effects of microgravity on cellular elements of the central nervous system - astrocytes, microglia, neurons, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Department of Medical Education, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37604, USA.
Research Article
International Journal of Frontline Research and Reviews, 2024, 02(01), 009–018.
Article DOI: 10.56355/ijfrr.2024.2.1.0021
Publication history:
Received on 16 December 2023; revised on 28 January 2024; accepted on 31 January 2024
Abstract:
The microgravity of space has a number of detrimental effects on the central nervous system of astronauts and cosmonauts. This includes the development of increased intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid volume, thickening of the meninges, attrition of gray matter and the number of neuronal synapses, aberrant astrocyte structure and function, changes in the morphology, distribution and proinflammatory activity of microglia, and detrimental effects on the ontogeny and functioning of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells.
In this article, I review what is known about the ontogeny, physiology and anatomy of astrocytes, microglia, neurons, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells and detail the effects of microgravity and/or simulated microgravity on these key cellular elements of the central nervous system.
Keywords:
Microgravity; Central Nervous System; Astronauts; Cosmonauts; Spaceflight
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0