Prenatal exposure to (dLAN) of approximately 2 lux may lead to behavioral changes in offspring.
Male offspring showed decreased locomotor activity in anxiety assessments.
Social interaction latency was altered in male offspring exposed to dLAN.
Adult males exposed to dLAN tended to exhibit less immobility in a test for depressive behavior.
Female offspring displayed increased activity in open environments, indicating potential higher exploratory behavior.
Behavioral effects varied depending on the age and sex of the offspring.
Simplified
Recently, (dLAN) has become nearly ubiquitous. Whereas nighttime light exposure is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, little is known about the effects of low-intensity light exposure at night during pregnancy on offspring. We investigated the behavioral perturbations caused by prenatal exposure to dLAN at different stages of ontogeny. Rat dams were subjected to a light-dark regimen with ~ 2 lx dLAN throughout pregnancy. After parturition, the animals were exposed to a regular lighting cycle, and the dams' behavior in the homecage and the pups' development were monitored. Offspring underwent a battery of tests at weaning, puberty, and adulthood to assess exploration, anxiety-like behavior, and sociability. In adulthood, additional evaluations of cognition, depressive behavior, and emotional reactivity were conducted. Prenatal dLAN exposure decreased locomotor activity in male offspring in the elevated plus maze, altered their social interaction latency, and in adulthood tended to decrease immobility time in the forced swim test. Adult dLAN female offspring exhibited higher activity in open spaces than controls, suggesting increased exploratory drive or risk-taking. Our results indicate that prenatal dLAN exposure has mild effects on offspring behavior that manifest differently depending on individual's age and sex.
Key numbers
17×
Decrease in locomotor activity
Locomotor activity in males during elevated plus maze test compared to controls.
9.71 ± 0.29
Litter size trend
Average litter size in vs. control groups.
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