Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Erectile dysfunction is haunting astronauts, as exposure to cosmic radiation and weightlessness in space could increase the risk, according to research in rats. This research on rats suggests deep space exploration that requires long periods of time in space may increase the risk of astronauts developing erectile dysfunction.
According to Live Science, based on a recent study published on Wednesday (Nov. 22) in The FASEB Journal, researchers found that male rats exposed to simulated galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and weightlessness experienced impaired function of the erectile tissue of the penis. These effects persisted even after a year-long recovery period, raising concerns about the potential long-term health impacts for astronauts.
As space industries prepare for crewed missions to distant destinations, this research shows the importance of sexual health monitoring on astronauts upon their return to Earth, according to Justin La Favor, a co-senior author of the study and an assistant professor at Florida State University who specializes in neurovascular dysfunction.
With plans to send astronauts around the moon as early as 2024 and to Mars by 2040, there is increasing attention on the potential long-term effects of deep space exploration on the human body. During such missions, astronauts would face prolonged exposure to weightlessness and elevated levels of GCR.
On Earth, our planet’s thick atmosphere acts as a shield, deflecting GCR, an energetic subatomic particle, back into space. However, in the vacuum of space, this protection is significantly reduced, leaving astronauts more vulnerable. For instance, during a six-month stay on the International Space Station, astronauts are exposed to radiation levels from cosmic rays equivalent to about 25 lifetimes on Earth’s surface, according to previous reports from Live Science. Such exposure could increase the risk of cancer, neurological damage, and cardiovascular diseases.
La Favor said While both GCR and weightlessness are linked to various adverse health outcomes, their impact on erectile function had not been previously examined.
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Erectile dysfunction, characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, affects more than half of men aged 40 to 70 on Earth. The effects of space exploration could therefore be an important consideration for male astronauts, especially if the condition persists in the long term.
In the study, researchers exposed 86 adult male rats to either hindlimb unloading, an experimental that replicates two major physiological effects of low gravity, namely the absence of weight-bearing resistance on muscles and bones, and the shifts in body fluid and pressure typical of a zero-gravity environment, according to La Favor.
Simultaneously, the rats were subjected to a single dose of either low or high levels of cosmic radiation using a ground-based GCR simulator at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory in New York.
After 12 to 13 months, the researchers analyzed samples from the rats corpus cavernosum, the erectile tissue in the penis, and the internal pudendal artery, which regulates blood flow during an erection. They found that GCR, and to a lesser extent, weightlessness, impaired the function of both tissues, primarily by increasing oxidative stress. This condition occurs when there is an accumulation of free radicals that can damage cells.
However, follow-up experiments showed that it was possible to counteract some of the effects caused by GCR using certain types of antioxidants.
The study only considered the health effects of GCR and weightlessness following a long recovery period, so it is possible that the short-term effects could be more severe, the researchers noted.
Moving forward, the researchers would like to look further into the exact causes of the observed effects and investigate ways to prevent them. Additionally, with female astronauts participating in upcoming missions, it will be crucial to investigate the potential impacts of deep space exploration on their sexual health as well.
(Raidi/Agung)
