抄録
The recent performance of manned space missions has raised the problem of astronaut exposure to various types of radiation, such as charged particles of solar origin (protons and electrons) and of galactic radiations (protons 85%, particles 14%, and heavy ions 1%). In spite of the low percentage of heavy ions, they contribute great effect to the total dose of cosmic rays delivered because they have very high LET. It is therefore important to assess the biological effects of heavy ions in order to estimate the radiation risk for human beings in future space missions of long duration and establish standards for radioprotection in space. Cytogenetic analysis of the lymphocytes of astronauts provides a direct measurement of space radiation damage in vivo, which takes into account individual radiosensitivity and considers the influence of microgravity and other stress conditions. We report chromosome aberrations in the lymphocytes of astronauts using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosome painting probes.
