Male astronauts exposed to high levels of galactic cosmic radiation and weightlessness during space missions can negatively affect vascular tissues relevant to erectile dysfunction, claimed a study in rats.
Of particular concern is that experiments in male rats indicated that these aspects of spaceflight can cause problems even after a period of long-term recovery.
The research, which is published in The FASEB Journal, indicated that vascular alterations are induced by relatively low doses of galactic cosmic radiation and to a lesser extent simulated weightlessness, primarily through increases in oxidative stress.
However, treatment with different antioxidants could counter some of these effects.
&ldquo;With manned missions to outer space planned for the coming years, this work indicates that sexual health should be closely monitored in astronauts upon their return to Earth,&rdquo; said corresponding author Justin D. La Favor of Florida State University.
&ldquo;While the negative impacts of galactic cosmic radiation were long-lasting, functional improvements induced by acutely targeting the redox and nitric oxide pathways in the tissues suggest that the erectile dysfunction may be treatable,&rdquo; he added.
In the study, 86 rats were subjected to a four-week regime simulating the conditions of space, including hindlimb unloading and cosmic radiation, at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory.
Follow-up examinations conducted 12 to 13 months later assessed the long-term damage.
The study &ldquo;suggests long-term neurovascular dysfunction of erectile tissues as a novel health risk to consider for space travel,&rdquo; the researchers said, even as space travel and manned missions are increasingly being planned to Moon and Mars.
Previous studies have shown how long long-duration space travel leads to extreme bone loss.
Microgravity induces bone loss at a rate 12-times greater than on Earth. Astronauts in low Earth orbit may experience bone loss up to 1 per cent every month, endangering their skeletal health and increasing risk for fractures during long-duration spaceflight and later in life.
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Of particular concern is that experiments in male rats indicated that these aspects of spaceflight can cause problems even after a period of long-term recovery

Spaceflight may increase men’s risk of erectile dysfunction: Study

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Spaceflight may increase men’s risk of erectile dysfunction: Study

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