Our results illustrate that TER measurements provide a useful model for determination of physiological changes caused by radiation exposure. This measure also provides a method for testing the efficacy of radioprotective agents.
Space radiation represents an environmental hazard associated with space flight.
Ion transport and ionic equilibrium across cell membranes are physiological processes essential in all living organisms. Measurement of TER across cells grown on permeable membranes can provide an indirect assessment of tight junction establishment and stability. Because the epithelium separates cellular compartments with very different fluid composition, maintenance of its stability and electrical resistance is critical for many essential physiological processes. Therefore, changes in TER may represent an early expression of cell damage. The object of this work was to determine whether TER measurements in cell culture monolayers can be used as a model system for detecting cell damage produced by exposure to radiation and for testing potential chemoprotective agents.