Analysis of neuronal mechanisms underlaying the cosmic radiation-induced modulation of muscular movements

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24620013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 宇宙生命学
• Research Institution: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
• Principal Investigator: SUZUKI Michiyo 独立行政法人日本原子力研究開発機構, 原子力科学研究部門量子ビーム応用研究センター, 研究員 (10507437)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAKASHITA Tetsuya 独立行政法人日本原子力研究開発機構, 原子力科学研究部門・量子ビーム応用研究センター, 研究主幹 (30311377) ; YANASE Sumino 大東文化大学, スポーツ・健康科学部, 准教授 (90249061)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TSUJI Toshio 広島大学, 大学院工学研究院, 教授 (90179995)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 放射線生体影響情報学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate the radiation effects and the involvement of oxidative stress on muscular movements, we focused on the pharyngeal pumping motion in C. elegans. We found that the proportion of animals in which the pumping motion had stopped increased immediately after irradiation. In addition, the response of hydrogen peroxide-exposed animals was similar to that of irradiated animals. These results support the possibility that radiation-induced suppression of the pumping motion in C. elegans was caused by radiation-produced hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, we proposed a simulation-based approach to estimate the control mechanisms involved in the pumping motion. To conduct the simulations, we developed a pharyngeal muscle model including 20 muscular cells and 9 marginal cells. Through a series of simulations using the model, we successfully selected a few candidate cells of the rhythm generator, which might relate to the radiation-induced termination of the pumping motion.

Free Research Field

放射線生物学