You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction/Andrology: Basic Research II1 Apr 2015PD36-12 THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT INDUCES THE ENHANCEMENT OF CAVEOLIN EXPRESSION AND LEADS TO GERM CELL APOPTOSIS Hideyuki Kamisawa, Kentaro Mizuno, Satoshi Kurokawa, Yoshinobu Moritoki, Hidenori Nishio, Akihiro Nakane, Tetsuji Maruyama, Keiji Fujita, Shoichi Sasaki, Yutaro Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Kojima, and Kenjiro Kohri Hideyuki KamisawaHideyuki Kamisawa More articles by this author , Kentaro MizunoKentaro Mizuno More articles by this author , Satoshi KurokawaSatoshi Kurokawa More articles by this author , Yoshinobu MoritokiYoshinobu Moritoki More articles by this author , Hidenori NishioHidenori Nishio More articles by this author , Akihiro NakaneAkihiro Nakane More articles by this author , Tetsuji MaruyamaTetsuji Maruyama More articles by this author , Keiji FujitaKeiji Fujita More articles by this author , Shoichi SasakiShoichi Sasaki More articles by this author , Yutaro HayashiYutaro Hayashi More articles by this author , Yoshiyuki KojimaYoshiyuki Kojima More articles by this author , and Kenjiro KohriKenjiro Kohri More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.2261AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES One of the important problems in the near future is whether normal reproductive function can be maintained in a space environment. In space, various factors can harm spermatogenesis, including the stress from the state of weightlessness, testicular bloodstream deterioration, and exposure to cosmic rays. We evaluated the expression changes in intra-testicular genes and spermatogenesis in rats that boarded a space shuttle for a space trip. METHODS This study was conducted as a part of the □gSTS-107 Biospecimen Sharing Plan,□h a collaborative investigation with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The space trip lasted for about 14 days. We divided 9-week-old S-D rats into 3 groups: the GC (ground control) group, which was bred in a normal cage on the ground; the FC (flight control) group, which was bred in a special cage for spaceflight on the ground; and the FL (flight) group, which went on the space trip and bred in same type of cage as the FL group. Testes were removed after 14 days of breeding, and performed histopathological examination, microarrays analysis, RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining. RESULTS In the FL group, the seminiferous diameters were decreased, and sperm production was impaired. Microarray analysis revealed that 19 genes were highly expressed in the FL group as compared to the GC and FC groups. Of these 19 genes, RT-PCR and western blotting confirmed significantly high expression of Cav-1 (caveolin 1) and Cav-2. Immunohistochemistry revealed that these proteins were distributed in spermatocytes and that expression was stronger in the FL groups than in the GC or FC groups. CONCLUSIONS We observed spaceflight-induced testicular atrophy and elevation of caveolin expression. Over-expression of caveolin would lead to inhibition of hormonal homeostasis and germ cell differentiation. Our study suggests that long-term exposure to the space environment may prolong these regulatory changes and induce male infertility. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e769 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Hideyuki Kamisawa More articles by this author Kentaro Mizuno More articles by this author Satoshi Kurokawa More articles by this author Yoshinobu Moritoki More articles by this author Hidenori Nishio More articles by this author Akihiro Nakane More articles by this author Tetsuji Maruyama More articles by this author Keiji Fujita More articles by this author Shoichi Sasaki More articles by this author Yutaro Hayashi More articles by this author Yoshiyuki Kojima More articles by this author Kenjiro Kohri More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...