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Cited by 129Circadian rhythm and melatoninImpact of Light on Environment and HealthSleep and Wakefulness Research

Acute exposure to low-level light at night is sufficient to induce neurological changes and depressive-like behavior

Open access
Walker, William H., Borniger, Jeremy C., Gaudier-Diaz, Monica M., Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández, O., Pascoe, Jordan L., Courtney DeVries, A., Nelson, Randy J.·2020·Molecular Psychiatry
DOI 10.1038/s41380-019-0430-4PMC PMC6881534
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Abstract

The advent and wide-spread adoption of electric lighting over the past century has profoundly affected the circadian organization of physiology and behavior for many individuals in industrialized nations; electric lighting in homes, work environments, and public areas have extended daytime activities into the evening, thus, increasing night-time exposure to light. Although initially assumed to be innocuous, chronic exposure to light at night (LAN) is now associated with increased incidence of cancer, metabolic disorders, and affective problems in humans. However, little is known about potential acute effects of LAN. To determine whether acute exposure to low-level LAN alters brain function, adult male, and female mice were housed in either light days and dark nights (LD; 14 h of 150 lux:10 h of 0 lux) or light days and low level light at night (LAN; 14 h of 150 lux:10 h of 5 lux). Mice exposed to LAN on three consecutive nights increased depressive-like responses compared to mice housed in dark nights. In addition, female mice exposed to LAN increased central tendency in the open field. LAN was associated with reduced hippocampal vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in both male and female mice, as well as increased VEGFR1 and interleukin-1β mRNA expression in females, and reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor mRNA in males. Further, LAN significantly altered circadian rhythms (activity and temperature) and circadian gene expression in female and male mice, respectively. Altogether, this study demonstrates that acute exposure to LAN alters brain physiology and can be detrimental to well-being in otherwise healthy individuals.

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  • Studies using Swiss Webster mice, which have no detectable pineal melatonin, versus Siberian hamsters, which have a robust pineal melatonin rhythm, have reported similar effects of light at night on affective responses.

    “Nonetheless, studies using Swiss Webster mice (which have no detectable pineal melatonin) vs. Siberian hamsters (which have a robust pineal melatonin rhythm) have reported similar effects of light at night on affective responses33,59–61.”

    From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [60]

    The Methods and Discussion (page unavailable) identify Swiss Webster mice as the study population and report depressive-like effects of light at night, consistent with prior rodent studies. Our copy does not establish the claimed comparison with Siberian hamsters or the two species’ pineal melatonin profiles; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Acute (3 nights) exposure of mice to dim light at night (5 lux) is sufficient to induce alterations in clock genes and increase depressive-like behavior.

    “Acute (3 nights) exposure of mice to dLAN (5 lux) is sufficient to induce alterations in clock genes and increase depressive-like behavior60.”

    From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [60]

  • 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 [60]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [19]Fonken LK, Kitsmiller E, Smale L, Nelson RJ. Dim nighttime light impairs cognition and provokes depressive-like responses in a diurnal rodent. J Biol Rhythms 2012; 27: 319– 327. 22855576

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Authors
Walker, W. H., Borniger, J. C., Gaudier-Diaz, M. M., Hecmarie Meléndez-Fernández, O., Pascoe, J. L., Courtney DeVries, A., & Nelson, R. J.
Affiliations
  • West Virginia University (US)
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Walker, William H.
ORCID
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-05-28
Volume
25
Issue
5
Pages
1080-1093
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
DOI
10.1038/s41380-019-0430-4
PMC
PMC6881534
OpenAlex
W2947169552
Cited by
129
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 30
FWCI
8.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Institutional Repository (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (submittedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS092388)
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, depression-like behavior, circadian rhythm, circadian gene expression, hippocampus, VEGF-A, VEGFR1, IL-1β, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, sex differences, electric lighting, sleep-wake behavior, body temperature rhythm
MeSH terms
Animals, Circadian Rhythm, Depression, Female, Hippocampus, Light, Lighting, Male, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Mice, Interleukin-1beta

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