Simulated weightlessness procedure, head-down bed rest has reversible effects on the metabolism of rhesus macaque.

It is a consensus in the international manned space field that factors such as microgravity during the space flight can cause anxiety, depression and other important brain function abnormalities in astronauts. However, the neural mechanism at the molecular level is still unclear. Due to the limitations of research conditions, studies of biological changes in the primate brain have been comparatively few. We took advantage of -6° head-down bed rest (HDBR), one of the most implemented space analogues on the ground, to investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on non-human primate brain metabolites. The Rhesus Macaque monkeys in the experiment were divided into three groups: the control group, the 42-day simulated weightlessness group with HDBR, and the recovery group, which had 28 days of free activity in the home cage after the HDBR. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to perform metabolomics analysis on specific brain areas of the monkeys under three experimental conditions. Our results show that simulated weightlessness can cause neurotransmitter imbalances, the amino acid and energy metabolism disorders, and hormone disturbances. But these metabolomics changes are reversible after recovery. Our study suggests that long-term brain damage in space flight might be reversible at the metabolic level. This lays a technical foundation for ensuring brain health and enhancing the brain function in future space studies.

Li Y ，Zhang X ，Xu Z ，Chu X ，Hu Z ，Ye Z ，Li C ，Wang Z ，Zeng B ，Pan J ，Zhao Q ，Zhou C ，Lan Z ，Kan G ，He G ，Xu X ，Li W ... -  《Molecular Brain》

Simulated weightlessness procedure, head-down bed rest impairs adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rhesus macaque.

Zhang X ，Chu X ，Chen L ，Fu J ，Wang S ，Song J ，Kan G ，Jiang W ，He G ，Chen X ，Li W ... -  《Molecular Brain》

Long-duration head down bed rest as an analog of microgravity: Effects on the static perception of upright.

Harris LR ，Jenkin M ，Herpers R 《-》

Brain plasticity and sensorimotor deterioration as a function of 70 days head down tilt bed rest.

Koppelmans V ，Bloomberg JJ ，De Dios YE ，Wood SJ ，Reuter-Lorenz PA ，Kofman IS ，Riascos R ，Mulavara AP ，Seidler RD ... -  《PLoS One》

[A study of effects of head-down bed-rest simulated weightlessness on phonetic features of Chinese].

Liu ZG ，Huang DS ，Zheng SX 《-》