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Cited by 89Circadian rhythm and melatoninImpact of Light on Environment and HealthStress Responses and Cortisol

Exposure to dim light at night during early development increases adult anxiety-like responses

Borniger, Jeremy C., McHenry, Zachary D., Abi Salloum, Bachir A., Nelson, Randy J.·2014·Physiology & Behavior
DOI 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.012
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Abstract

Early experiences produce effects that may persist throughout life. Therefore, to understand adult phenotype, it is important to investigate the role of early environmental stimuli in adult behavior and health. Artificial light at night (LAN) is an increasingly common phenomenon throughout the world. However, animals, including humans, evolved under dark night conditions. Many studies have revealed affective, immune, and metabolic alterations provoked by aberrant light exposure and subsequent circadian disruption. Pups are receptive to entraining cues from the mother and then light early during development, raising the possibility that the early life light environment may influence subsequent behavior. Thus, to investigate potential influences of early life exposure to LAN on adult phenotype, we exposed mice to dim (~5 lux; full spectrum white light) or dark (~0 lux) nights pre- and/or postnatally. After weaning at 3 weeks of age, all mice were maintained in dark nights until adulthood (9 weeks of age) when behavior was assessed. Mice exposed to dim light in early life increased anxiety-like behavior and fearful responses on the elevated plus maze and passive avoidance tests. These mice also displayed reduced growth rates, which ultimately normalized during adolescence. mRNA expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin previously linked to early life environment and adult phenotype, was not altered in the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus by early life LAN exposure. Serum corticosterone concentrations were similar between groups at weaning, suggesting that early life LAN does not elicit a long-term physiologic stress response. Dim light exposure did not influence behavior on the open field, novel object, sucrose anhedonia, or forced swim tests. Our data highlight the potential deleterious consequences of low levels of light during early life to development and subsequent behavior. Whether these changes are due to altered maternal behavior or persistent circadian abnormalities incurred by LAN remains to be determined.

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  • Exposure to dim light at night during early development in mice increases adult anxiety-like responses, whereas exposure of adult mice to light at night reduces anxiety-like responses.

    “For example, exposure to dim light at night during early development in mice increases adult anxiety-like responses108,109, whereas exposure of adult mice to light at night reduces anxiety-like responses106.”

    From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [108]

  • The effects of light as a circadian disruptor are inconsistent across species and may depend on the developmental window during which circadian disruption occurs, as well as the type of light and its intensity.

    “However, the effects of light as a circadian disruptor are inconsistent across species104–108, and may depend on the developmental window during which circadian disruption occurs, as well as the type of light (i.e. halogen, compact fluorescent, or light emitting diode) and its intensity108,109.”

    From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [108]

  • Circadian disruptions are ubiquitous in modern society, affected by the modern lighting environment and negatively impacting health from in utero development through old age.

    “Circadian disruptions are ubiquitous in modern society, affected by the modern lighting environment and negatively impacting health from in utero development through old age79–81.”

    From Maternal and Early-Life Circadian Disruption Have Long-Lasting Negative Consequences on Offspring Development and Adult Behavior in Mice (2017) · cites this paper as [79]

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Authors
Borniger, J. C., McHenry, Z. D., Abi Salloum, B. A., & Nelson, R. J.
Affiliations
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Borniger, Jeremy C.
ORCID
Venue
Physiology & Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-06
Volume
133
Pages
99-106
ISSN
0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.012
OpenAlex
W2153607825
Cited by
89
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
3.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Institutional Repository (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Ohio State University
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
artificial light at night, dim light exposure, early life environment, anxiety-like behavior, circadian rhythm disruption, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, corticosterone, growth rate, elevated plus maze, passive avoidance
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Ocular, Age Factors, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Anxiety, Avoidance Learning, Circadian Rhythm, Disease Models, Animal, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Food Preferences, Light, Male, Sucrose, Swimming, Time Factors, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Maze Learning, Recognition, Psychology, Mice

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