Dim light at night may affect recovery after spinal cord injury in mice

Mice with spinal cord injury (SCI) in dim light-at-night conditions exhibited modest effects on locomotor, pain-like, and mood-related behaviors.

• Circadian disruption from a dim light-at-night environment did not worsen locomotor deficits in SCI mice; instead, there was a slight improvement in locomotion.
• Mechanical allodynia increased in SCI mice exposed to dim light-at-night at 13 days post-injury, compared to those in light-dark conditions.
• No significant differences were found in depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors between SCI mice in dim light-at-night and those in light-dark conditions.
• At 21 days post-injury, SCI mice in dim light-at-night showed a reduced preference for a novel juvenile, indicating potential worsening of mood-related behavior.
• Lesion size was comparable between SCI mice in dim light-at-night and those in light-dark conditions.

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