Cited by 95Circadian rhythm and melatoninImpact of Light on Environment and HealthStress Responses and Cortisol

Dim light at night increases depressive-like responses in male C3H/HeNHsd mice

Fonken, Laura K., Nelson, Randy J.·2013·Behavioural Brain Research

Abstract

Daily patterns of light exposure have become increasingly variable since the widespread adoption of electrical lighting during the 20th century. Seasonal fluctuations in light exposure, shift-work, and transmeridian travel are all associated with alterations in mood. These studies implicate fluctuations in environmental lighting in the development of depressive disorders. Here we argue that exposure to light at night (LAN) may be causally linked to depression. Male C3H/HeNHsd mice, which produce nocturnal melatonin, were housed in either a standard light/dark (LD) cycle or exposed to nightly dim (5 lux) LAN (dLAN). After four weeks in lighting conditions mice underwent behavioral testing and hippocampal tissue was collected at the termination of the study for qPCR. Here were report that mice exposed to dLAN increase depressive-like responses in both a sucrose anhedonia and forced swim test. In contrast to findings in diurnal grass rats, dLAN mice perform comparably to mice housed under dark nights in a hippocampus-dependent learning and memory task. TNFα and IL1β gene expression do not differ between groups, demonstrating that changes in these pro-inflammatory cytokines do not mediate dLAN induced depressive-like responses in mice. BDNF expression is reduced in the hippocampus of mice exposed to dLAN. These results indicate that low levels of LAN can alter mood in mice. This study along with previous work implicates LAN as a potential factor contributing to depression. Further understanding of the mechanisms through which LAN contributes to changes in mood is important for characterizing and treating depressive disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.046

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  • Exposure to dim light at night induces depressive-like behavior in multiple species of rodents.

    “As with constant light, exposure to dim light at night induces depressive-like behavior in multiple species of rodents58–60,95.”

    From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [95]

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Authors
Fonken, L. K., & Nelson, R. J.
Affiliations
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Fonken, Laura K.
Venue
Behavioural Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-04
Volume
243
Pages
74-78
ISSN
0166-4328 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2129457290
Cited by
95
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7
FWCI
4.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Behavioural Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (IOS-0838098)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
light at night, dim light exposure, depression, depression-like behavior, melatonin, anhedonia, forced swim test, hippocampus, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, TNF-α, IL-1β, inflammatory cytokines, light-dark cycle, circadian rhythm disruption
MeSH terms
Affect, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Circadian Rhythm, Depression, Hippocampus, Light, Male, Mice, Inbred C3H, Neuropsychological Tests, Photoperiod, Mice, Anhedonia

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