Effect of transcranial laser irradiation on avoidance memory impairments and social interaction induced by simulated weightlessness in Balb/c male mice
Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Seyed Zanyar Athari
1
,
Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
2
,
Javad Mahmoudi
3
,
Fereshteh Farajdokht
4
1 - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
2 - Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
3 - Neuroscience Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
4 - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
Keywords: Astronautics, Low Level Laser, Memory, Mice, Weightlessness,
Abstract :
Social interaction impairments and avoidance memory deficits are among the key neurological complications associated with microgravity during spaceflight. Transcranial low-level laser therapy (tLLLT), as a non-invasive intervention, has been proposed as a potential strategy to counteract these deficits by modulating brain plasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tLLLT on social interaction and avoidance memory disorders induced by simulated microgravity in male Balb/C mice. In this experimental study, 24 male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into three equal groups: Control, Hindlimb Unloading (HU), and HU with laser treatment (HU+PBM). Simulated microgravity was induced using the hindlimb unloading technique for a duration of 14 days and in the HU+PBM group, animals were treated with a laser at a wavelength of 810 nm concurrently with the induction of the HU model. Behavioral assessments were performed using the Inhibitory Avoidance test and the Social Interaction test. Additionally, prefrontal levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured using the ELISA method as a biomarker of neuroplasticity. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. The results demonstrated that simulated microgravity significantly reduced sociability indices, impaired avoidance memory, and decreased BDNF levels (p<0.05). In contrast, laser treatment in the HU+PBM group significantly improved all of these parameters compared to the HU group (p<0.05). These findings suggest that transcranial low-level laser therapy, likely through upregulation of BDNF, may serve as an effective non-invasive approach for mitigating social and cognitive deficits induced by spaceflight-like conditions.
