Limited evidence for affective and diurnal rhythm responses to dim light-at-night in male and female C57Bl/6 mice
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are recurring patterns in a range of behavioural, physiological and molecular parameters that display periods of near 24 h, and are underpinned by an endogenous biological timekeeping system. Circadian clocks are increasingly recognised as being key for health. Environmental light is the key stimulus that synchronises the internal circadian system with the external time cues. There are emergent health concerns regarding increasing worldwide prevalence of electric lighting, especially man-made light-at-night, and light's impact on the circadian system may be central to these effects. A number of previous studies have demonstrated increased depression-like behaviour in various rodent experimental models exposed to dim light-at-night. In this study we set out to study the impact of dim light-at-night on circadian and affective behaviours in C57Bl/6 mice. We set out specifically to examine the impact of sex on light at night's effects, as well as the impact of housing conditions. We report minimal impact of light-at-night on circadian and affective behaviours, as measured by the tail suspension test, the forced swim test, the sucrose preference test and the elevated plus maze. Light-at-night was also not associated with an increase in body weight, but was associated with a decrease in the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 in the dentate gyrus. In summary, we conclude that experimental contextual factors, such as model species or strain, may be considerable importance in the investigation of the impact of light at night on mood-related parameters.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Studies have reported no association between light at night and mood in C57Bl/6 mice, suggesting a potential strain-specific effect of light at night.
“However, studies have also reported no association between LAN and mood in C57Bl/6 mice suggesting a potential strain specific effect of LAN96,97.”
From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [97]
The abstract (p. 1) reports minimal effects of dim light at night on affective behaviour in C57Bl/6 mice, and the Discussion (p. 7) identifies strain as a possible source of differing responses. But the Results (pp. 4–5) report increased forced-swim immobility in group-housed males and an anxiety-related difference in group-housed mice, so 'no association' is too absolute. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
Muller, K. E., & Cohen, J. (1989) · Technometrics · doi:10.2307/1270020 · Cited by 99,588 · see citing works
Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences
Cohen, J. (1990) · Computers Environment and Urban Systems · doi:10.1016/0198-9715(90)90050-4 · Cited by 65,406 · see citing works
Yoo, S.-H., Yamazaki, S., Lowrey, P. L., Shimomura, K., Ko, C. H., Buhr, E. D., Siepka, S. M., Hong, H.-K., Oh, W. J., Yoo, O. J., et al. (2004) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0308709101 · Cited by 2,329 · see citing works
The new world atlas of artificial night sky brightness
Falchi, F., Cinzano, P., Duriscoe, D. M., Kyba, C. C. M., Elvidge, C. D., Baugh, K., Portnov, B. A., Rybnikova, N. A., & Furgoni, R. (2016) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.1600377 · Cited by 1,695 · see citing works
The Circadian Clock and Human Health
Roenneberg, T., & Merrow, M. (2016) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.011 · Cited by 1,004 · see citing works
Hidden multiplicity in exploratory multiway ANOVA: Prevalence and remedies
Cramer, A. O. J., van Ravenzwaaij, D., Matzke, D., Steingroever, H., Wetzels, R., Grasman, R. P. P. P., Waldorp, L., & Wagenmakers, E. (2015) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-015-0913-5 · Cited by 416 · see citing works
Lunn, R. M., Blask, D. E., Coogan, A. N., Figueiro, M. G., Gorman, M. R., Hall, J. E., Hansen, J., Nelson, R. J., Panda, S., Smolensky, M. H., et al. (2017) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.056 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
Self-citationStress, social behavior, and resilience: Insights from rodents
Beery, A. K., & Kaufer, D. (2014) · Neurobiology of Stress · doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2014.10.004 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
Long‐term individual housing in C57BL/6J and DBA/2 mice: assessment of behavioral consequences
Võikar, V., Polus, A., Vasar, E., & Rauvala, H. (2004) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2004.00106.x · Cited by 359 · see citing works
Timing of light exposure affects mood and brain circuits
Bedrosian, T. A., & Nelson, R. J. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2016.262 · Cited by 356 · see citing works
Dim Light at Night Disrupts Molecular Circadian Rhythms and Increases Body Weight
Fonken, L. K., Aubrecht, T. G., Meléndez‐Fernández, O. H., Weil, Z. M., & Nelson, R. J. (2013) · Journal of Biological Rhythms · doi:10.1177/0748730413493862 · Cited by 325 · see citing works
Méziane, H., Ouagazzal, A., Aubert, L., Wietrzych, M., & Krężel, W. (2006) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2006.00249.x · Cited by 260 · see citing works
Hedrich, H. J. (2012) · doi:10.1016/c2009-0-60982-x · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Sex Differences in Animal Models of Depression and Antidepressant Response
Dalla, C., Pitychoutis, P. M., Kokras, N., & Papadopoulou‐Daifoti, Z. (2009) · Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology · doi:10.1111/j.1742-7843.2009.00516.x · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Dim nighttime light impairs cognition and provokes depressive-like responses in a diurnal rodent
Fonken, L. K., Kitsmiller, E., Smale, L., & Nelson, R. J. (2012) · Journal of Biological Rhythms · doi:10.1177/0748730412448324 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
To group or not to group? Good practice for housing male laboratory mice
Kappel, S., Hawkins, P., & Mendl, M. (2017) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani7120088 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Sex differences in mood disorders: Perspectives from humans and rodent models
Seney, M. L., & Sibille, E. (2014) · Biology of Sex Differences · doi:10.1186/s13293-014-0017-3 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Mood, the Circadian System, and Melanopsin Retinal Ganglion Cells
Ospri, L. L., Prusky, G. T., & Hattar, S. S. (2017) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-072116-031324 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis induces long-lasting affective changes in the mouse
Anderson, S. T., Commins, S., Moynagh, P. N., & Coogan, A. N. (2014) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2014.07.007 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Self-citationBedrosian, T. A., Fonken, L. K., Walton, J. C., Haim, A., & Nelson, R. J. (2011) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.01.004 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Ethological approach to social isolation effects in behavioral studies of laboratory rodents
Arakawa, H. (2018) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2017.12.022 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Clocking in: chronobiology in rheumatoid arthritis
Buttgereit, F., Smolen, J. S., Coogan, A. N., & Cajochen, C. (2015) · Nature Reviews Rheumatology · doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2015.31 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Self-citationCircadian rhythms and depression: effects of exercise in an animal model
Solberg, L. C., Horton, T. H., & Turek, F. W. (1999) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.1999.276.1.r152 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Photic Regulation of Clock Systems
Hughes, S., Jagannath, A., Hankins, M. W., Foster, F., & Peirson, S. N. (2014) · Methods in enzymology on CD-ROM/Methods in enzymology · doi:10.1016/bs.mie.2014.10.018 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Dim light at night disturbs the daily sleep-wake cycle in the rat
Stenvers, D. J., van Dorp, R., Foppen, E., Mendoza, J., Opperhuizen, A., Fliers, E., Bisschop, P. H. L. T., Meijer, J. H., Kalsbeek, A., & Deboer, T. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep35662 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Chronic dim light at night provokes reversible depression-like phenotype: possible role for TNF
Bedrosian, T. A., Weil, Z. M., & Nelson, R. J. (2013) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2012.96 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Nocturnal Light Exposure Impairs Affective Responses in a Wavelength-Dependent Manner
Bedrosian, T. A., Vaughn, C. A., Galan, A., Daye, G., Weil, Z. M., & Nelson, R. J. (2013) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5734-12.2013 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Effects of a constant light environment on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in mice
Fujioka, A., Fujioka, T., Tsuruta, R., Izumi, T., Kasaoka, S., & Maekawa, T. (2011) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2010.11.001 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Dim light at night increases depressive-like responses in male C3H/HeNHsd mice
Fonken, L. K., & Nelson, R. J. (2013) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.046 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Exposure to dim light at night during early development increases adult anxiety-like responses
Borniger, J. C., McHenry, Z. D., Abi Salloum, B. A., & Nelson, R. J. (2014) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.012 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Circadian Rhythms and Mood Disorders: Are the Phenomena and Mechanisms Causally Related?
Bechtel, W. (2015) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00118 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
The role of the circadian clock in animal models of mood disorders.
Landgraf, D., McCarthy, M. J., & Welsh, D. K. (2014) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/a0036029 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Landgraf, D., Long, J. E., & Welsh, D. K. (2015) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/ejn.13085 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Kim, J., Jung, J., Lee, H., Kim, J. C., Wang, H., Kim, S., Shin, T., & Moon, C. (2008) · Acta Histochemica · doi:10.1016/j.acthis.2008.05.002 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Dim Light at Night Increases Immune Function in Nile Grass Rats, a Diurnal Rodent
Fonken, L. K., Haim, A., & Nelson, R. J. (2012) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.3109/07420528.2011.635831 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Long-Lasting Effects of Sepsis on Circadian Rhythms in the Mouse
O’Callaghan, E. K., Anderson, S. T., Moynagh, P. N., & Coogan, A. N. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047087 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationThe noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine phase-shifts the circadian clock in mice
O'Keeffe, S., Thome, J., & Coogan, A. N. (2011) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.002 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Self-citationPhotoperiodic responsiveness in house mice
Nelson, R. J. (1990) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(90)90335-2 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Goto, M., & Ebihara, S. (1990) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/0304-3940(90)90652-p · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Assessment of retinal degeneration in outbred albino mice.
Serfilippi, L. M., Pallman, D. R. S., Gruebbel, M. M., et al. (2004) · PubMed · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Exercise attenuates the metabolic effects of dim light at night
Fonken, L. K., Meléndez‐Fernández, O. H., Weil, Z. M., & Nelson, R. J. (2013) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.10.022 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Martynhak, B. J., Hogben, A. L., Zanos, P., Georgiou, P., Andreatini, R., Kitchen, I., Archer, S. N., von Schantz, M., Bailey, A., & van der Veen, D. R. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep40399 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Chronic fluoxetine treatment attenuates post-septic affective changes in the mouse
Anderson, S. T., Commins, S., Moynagh, P. N., & Coogan, A. N. (2015) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2015.10.011 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citationExtraordinary behavioral entrainment following circadian rhythm bifurcation in mice
Harrison, E. M., Walbeek, T. J., Sun, J., et al. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep38479 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
O'Keeffe, S., Beynon, A. L., Davies, J. S., Moynagh, P. N., & Coogan, A. N. (2017) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/ejn.13553 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health
Walker, W. H., Walton, J. C., DeVries, A. C., & Nelson, R. J. (2020) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0694-0 · Cited by 1,030 · see citing works
Walker, W. H., Borniger, J. C., Gaudier-Diaz, M. M., Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández, O., Pascoe, J. L., Courtney DeVries, A., & Nelson, R. J. (2020) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-019-0430-4 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cleary-Gaffney, M., & Coogan, A. N.
- Affiliations
- National University of Ireland, Maynooth (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Coogan, Andrew N.
- ORCID
- Coogan, Andrew N.
- Venue
- Physiology & Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-05
- Volume
- 189
- Pages
- 78-85
- ISSN
- 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2789366504
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Maynooth University ePrints and eTheses Archive (Maynooth University) (acceptedVersion)
- NORMA (acceptedVersion)
- 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 › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Keywords
- light at night, dim light exposure, circadian rhythm, affective behaviour, depression-like behavior, sex differences, housing conditions, C57BL/6 mice, Ki-67, body weight
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Behavior, Animal, Body Weight, Circadian Rhythm, Depression, Female, Housing, Animal, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Sex Characteristics, Photoperiod, Dentate Gyrus, Ki-67 Antigen, Cell Proliferation, Mice
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
