Session
2024 Session 6
Location
Salt Lake Community College Westpointe Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
Start Date
5-6-2024 11:00 AM
Description
Spaceflight causes both physical and chemical changes within the subretinal tissue, particularly the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch’s membrane. Changes such as layer thinning and increases in oxidative stress are both implicated in vision loss caused by spaceflight. While these changes can lead to cell death, the mechanistic impact that these changes have on retinal function are unknown. To isolate the physical alterations to the subretinal tissue caused by space travel, we utilized a tunable in vitro model of Bruch’s membrane and primary porcine RPE cells. Initial results showed that while thinner models can be constructed, they are difficult to transfer, and no samples have been used for cell culture. When we applied low levels of oxidative stress to RPE cultures, the barrier function of the RPE remained intact. These findings suggest that to better understand the impact of spaceflight on the subretinal tissue, further work must be performed with the thinned Bruch’s membrane and higher levels of oxidative stress.
Modeling the Effects of Retinal Thinning and Oxidative Stress During Space Travel
Salt Lake Community College Westpointe Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
Spaceflight causes both physical and chemical changes within the subretinal tissue, particularly the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch’s membrane. Changes such as layer thinning and increases in oxidative stress are both implicated in vision loss caused by spaceflight. While these changes can lead to cell death, the mechanistic impact that these changes have on retinal function are unknown. To isolate the physical alterations to the subretinal tissue caused by space travel, we utilized a tunable in vitro model of Bruch’s membrane and primary porcine RPE cells. Initial results showed that while thinner models can be constructed, they are difficult to transfer, and no samples have been used for cell culture. When we applied low levels of oxidative stress to RPE cultures, the barrier function of the RPE remained intact. These findings suggest that to better understand the impact of spaceflight on the subretinal tissue, further work must be performed with the thinned Bruch’s membrane and higher levels of oxidative stress.