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Jha NA, Taufique SKT, Kumar V. Constant light and pinealectomy disrupt daily rhythm in song production and negatively impact reproductive performance in zebra finches. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:731-746. [PMID: 38441848 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-024-00548-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the circadian clock control of singing and reproductive performance in zebra finches. Experiment 1 examined changes in body mass, testis size, and plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels in male birds exposed to constant light (LL, 100 lx) and constant darkness (DD, 0.5 lx), with controls on 12L:12D (L = 100 lx, D = 0.5 lx). There was a significant increase in the body mass and testis size under LL and a decrease in testis size under the DD. Using a similar design, experiment 2 assessed the persistence of the circadian rhythm in singing along with activity-rest pattern in cohort I birds that were entrained to 12L:12D and subsequently released in DD or LL, and in cohort II birds that were entrained to 12L:12D and following pinealectomy were released in DD. Both activity and singing patterns were synchronized with the light phase under 12L:12D, free-ran with a circadian period under DD, and were arrhythmic under the LL. There was an overall decreased and increased effect on singing under DD and LL, respectively, albeit with differences in various song parameters. The pinealectomy disrupted both activity and singing rhythms but did not affect singing or the overall song features. Pinealectomized bird pairs also exhibited a significant reduction in their nest-building and breeding efforts, resulting in a compromised reproductive performance. These results suggest a circadian clock control of singing and more importantly demonstrate a role of the pineal clock in breeding behaviors, leading to a compromised reproductive performance in diurnal zebra finches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelu Anand Jha
- Department of Zoology, IndoUS Center in Chronobiology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
- Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131 001, India
| | - S K Tahajjul Taufique
- Department of Zoology, IndoUS Center in Chronobiology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, IndoUS Center in Chronobiology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.
- Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, 226 003, India.
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2
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Lei T, Hua H, Du H, Xia J, Xu D, Liu W, Wang Y, Yang T. Molecular mechanisms of artificial light at night affecting circadian rhythm disturbance. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:395-408. [PMID: 38103071 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03647-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) pollution has been regarded as a global environmental concern. More than 80% of the global population is exposed to light pollution. Exacerbating this issue, artificially lit outdoor areas are growing by 2.2% per year, while continuously lit areas have brightened by 2.2% each year due to rapid population growth and expanding urbanization. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of night shift work and smart device usage contributes to the inescapable influence of ALAN. Studies have shown that ALAN can disrupt endogenous biological clocks, resulting in a disturbance of the circadian rhythm, which ultimately affects various physiological functions. Up until now, scholars have studied various disease mechanisms caused by ALAN that may be related to the response of the circadian system to light. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms by which ALAN causes circadian rhythm abnormalities in sleep disorders, endocrine diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, immune impairment, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lei
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui Hua
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Biological Data Mining and Healthcare Transformation, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Huiying Du
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Jie Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Yutong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.
| | - Tianyao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China.
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China.
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Kumar A, Prabhat A, Kumar V, Bhardwaj SK. Artificial night illumination disrupts sleep, and attenuates mood and learning in diurnal animals: evidence from behavior and gene expression studies in zebra finches. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:2247-2257. [PMID: 37329435 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00447-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of an illuminated night on sleep, mood, and cognitive performance in non-seasonal diurnal zebra finches that were exposed for 6 weeks to an ecologically relevant dimly lit night (12L:12dLAN; 150 lx: 5 lx) with controls on the dark night (12L:12D; 150 lx: < 0.01 lx). Food and water were provided ad libitum. Under dLAN (dim light at night), birds showed disrupted nocturnal (frequent awakenings) and overall decreased sleep duration. They also exhibited a compromised novel object exploration, a marker of the bird's mood state, and committed more errors, took significantly longer duration to learn with low retrieval performance of the learned task when tested for a color-discrimination (learning) task under the dLAN. Further, compared to controls, there was reduced mRNA expression level of genes involved in the neurogenesis, neural plasticity (bdnf, dcx and egr1) and motivation (th, drd2, taar1 and htr2c; dopamine synthesis and signaling genes) in the brain (hippocampus (HP), nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), and midbrain) of birds under dLAN. These results show concurrent negative behavioral and molecular neural effects of the dimly illuminated nights, and provide insights into the possible impact on sleep and mental health in diurnal species inhabiting an increasingly urbanized ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwani Kumar
- Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250004, India
| | - Abhilash Prabhat
- Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250004, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj
- Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250004, India.
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4
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Cao M, Xu T, Yin D. Understanding light pollution: Recent advances on its health threats and regulations. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 127:589-602. [PMID: 36522088 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of artificial lights not only improves the lighting conditions for modern society, but also poses kinds of health threats to human health. Although there are regulations and standards concerning light pollution, few of them are based on the potential contribution of improper lighting to diseases. Therefore, a better understanding of the health threats induced by light pollution may promote risk assessment and better regulation of artificial lights, thereby a healthy lighting environment. This review is based on a careful collection of the latest papers from 2018 to 2022 about the health threats of light pollution, both epidemiologically and experimentally. In addition to summing up the novel associations of light pollution with obesity, mental disorders, cancer, etc., we highlight the toxicological mechanism of light pollution via circadian disruption, since light pollution directly interferes with the natural light-dark cycles, and damages the circadian photoentrainment of organisms. And by reviewing the alternations of clock genes and disturbance of melatonin homeostasis induced by artificial lights, we aim to excavate the profound impacts of light pollution based on accumulating studies, thus providing perspectives for future research and guiding relevant regulations and standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Daqiang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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5
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Yadav A, Kumar R, Tiwari J, Vaish V, Malik S, Rani S. Effect of artificial light at night on sleep and metabolism in weaver birds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:80422-80435. [PMID: 35716297 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20875-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night is constantly minimizing the span of dark nights from the natural light-dark cycle of earth. Over the past century, the "lightscape" of earth has completely changed owing to technological advancements which subsequently changed the lifestyle of human as well as the nearby animal species. This motivated the present study, wherein we investigated the impact of light at night (LAN) on behavior and physiology of a diurnal passerine finch, baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus). A group of bird (N=10) exposed to 12L:12D photoperiod was initially subjected to dark nights (0 lux) for a period of 1.5 weeks followed by 5 lux, night light for a span of 4 weeks. The first week in LAN served as acute treatment with respect to the fourth week (chronic). The results reveal significant increase in nighttime activity and sleep loss with respect to acute LAN, while significant inclusion of drowsiness behavior during the day in response to chronic LAN. Besides these behavioral alterations, changes in physiological parameters such as reduction in body mass, loss of gradient between pre- and post- prandial blood glucose levels, and elevation in plasma corticosterone levels were more prominent during acute exposure of LAN. Plasma metabolites such as triglycerides, total protein, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and creatinine concentrations also hiked in response to acute LAN treatment. Thus, acute exposure of LAN seems to serve as a novel environment for the bird leading to more pronounced impacts on behavioral and physiological observations during the experiment. In chronic exposure, the birds sort of adapted themselves to the prevailing circumstances as evident by decreased nighttime activity, rebound of sleep and corticosterone levels, etc. Thus, the study clearly demonstrates the differential impact of acute and chronic exposure of LAN on behavior and physiology of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupama Yadav
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India
| | - Jyoti Tiwari
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India
| | - Vaibhav Vaish
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India
| | - Shalie Malik
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India
| | - Sangeeta Rani
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, Lucknow, India.
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Aulsebrook AE, Jechow A, Krop-Benesch A, Kyba CCM, Longcore T, Perkin EK, van Grunsven RHA. Nocturnal lighting in animal research should be replicable and reflect relevant ecological conditions. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220035. [PMID: 35291885 PMCID: PMC8923816 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, light is a key driver of animal behaviour and physiology. When studying captive or laboratory animals, researchers usually expose animals to a period of darkness, to mimic night. However, ‘darkness’ is often poorly quantified and its importance is generally underappreciated in animal research. Even small differences in nocturnal light conditions can influence biology. When light levels during the dark phase are not reported accurately, experiments can be impossible to replicate and compare. Furthermore, when nocturnal light levels are unrealistically dark or bright, the research is less ecologically relevant. Such issues are exacerbated by huge differences in the sensitivity of different light meters, which are not always described in study methods. We argue that nocturnal light levels need to be reported clearly and precisely, particularly in studies of animals housed indoors (e.g. ‘<0.03 lux’ rather than ‘0 lux’ or ‘dark’), and that these light levels should reflect conditions that the animal would experience in a natural context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Aulsebrook
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Andreas Jechow
- Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany.,Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, GFZ German Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Christopher C M Kyba
- Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, GFZ German Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Travis Longcore
- UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Roy H A van Grunsven
- Dutch Butterfly Conservation, Mennonietenweg 10, 6702 AD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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7
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Poole J, Kitchen GB. Circadian regulation of innate immunity in animals and humans and implications for human disease. Semin Immunopathol 2022; 44:183-192. [PMID: 35169890 PMCID: PMC8853148 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00921-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are 24-h oscillating variations in physiology generated by the core circadian clock. There is now a wide body of evidence showing circadian regulation of the immune system. Innate immune cells contain the molecular circadian clock which drives rhythmic responses, from the magnitude of the inflammatory response to the numbers of circulating immune cells varying throughout the day. This leads to rhythmic presentation of disease clinically, for example the classic presentation of nocturnal asthma or the sudden development of pulmonary oedema from acute myocardial infarction first thing in the morning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Poole
- Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Trust, Southmead Rd, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Gareth B Kitchen
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.
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8
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Dominoni DM, de Jong M, van Oers K, O'Shaughnessy P, Blackburn GJ, Atema E, Mateman AC, D'Amelio PB, Trost L, Bellingham M, Clark J, Visser ME, Helm B. Integrated molecular and behavioural data reveal deep circadian disruption in response to artificial light at night in male Great tits (Parus major). Sci Rep 2022; 12:1553. [PMID: 35091579 PMCID: PMC8799718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05059-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally increasing levels of artificial light at night (ALAN) are associated with shifting rhythms of behaviour in many wild species. However, it is unclear whether changes in behavioural timing are paralleled by consistent shifts in the molecular clock and its associated physiological pathways. Inconsistent shifts between behavioural and molecular rhythms, and between different tissues and physiological systems, disrupt the circadian system, which coordinates all major body functions. We therefore compared behavioural, transcriptional and metabolomic responses of captive great tits (Parus major) to three ALAN intensities or to dark nights, recording activity and sampling brain, liver, spleen and blood at mid-day and midnight. ALAN advanced wake-up time, and this shift was paralleled by advanced expression of the clock gene BMAL1 in all tissues, suggesting close links between behaviour and clock gene expression across tissues. However, further analysis of gene expression and metabolites revealed that clock shifts were inconsistent across physiological systems. Untargeted metabolomic profiling showed that only 9.7% of the 755 analysed metabolites followed the behavioural shift. This high level of desynchronization indicates that ALAN disrupted the circadian system on a deep, easily overlooked level. Thus, circadian disruption could be a key mediator of health impacts of ALAN on wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide M Dominoni
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Maaike de Jong
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter O'Shaughnessy
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Gavin J Blackburn
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Els Atema
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - A Christa Mateman
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pietro B D'Amelio
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
- Centre d'Ecologie Functionnelle et Evolutive, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul-Valery Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | - Lisa Trost
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Michelle Bellingham
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jessica Clark
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Helm
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Artificial Light at Night, Higher Brain Functions and Associated Neuronal Changes: An Avian Perspective. BIRDS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/birds3010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent times, there has been an unprecedented increase in usage of electrical lightning. This has led to increase in artificial light at night (ALAN), and it has been suggested as a source of environmental pollution. ALAN exposure has been reported to be associated with disruption of daily rhythms and serious health consequences, such as immune, metabolic, and cognitive dysfunctions in both birds and mammals. Given the worldwide pervasiveness of ALAN, this research topic is also important from an ecological perspective. In birds, daily timings and appropriate temporal niches are important for fitness and survival. Daily rhythms in a wide array of functions are regulated by the circadian clock(s) and endogenous oscillators present in the body. There is accumulating evidence that exposure to ALAN disrupts clock-regulated daily rhythms and suppresses melatonin and sleep in birds. Circadian clock, melatonin, and sleep regulate avian cognitive performance. However, there is limited research on this topic, and most of the insights on the adverse effects of ALAN on cognitive functions are from behavioural studies. Nevertheless, these results raise an intriguing question about the molecular underpinning of the ALAN-induced negative consequences on brain functions. Further research should be focused on the molecular links between ALAN and cognitive performance, including the role of melatonin, which could shed light on the mechanism by which ALAN exposures lead to negative consequences.
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Abstract
An increase in artificial night lighting has blurred the boundaries of day and night and transformed the natural day-night environment with alteration in the temporal niche of the animals. Male zebra finches were exposed to a dim light at night (dLAN) protocol (Light: dLAN, 12L = 200 lux: 12dLAN = 5 lux) with controls on darkness at night (Light: dark, 12L = 200 lux: 12D = 0 lux) for six weeks. We assayed sleep-wake, daily behaviors, mood, and cognition, as well as changes in physiological parameters. Dim light at night increased sleep frequency, delayed sleep onset, advanced awakening latency, and caused a reduction in total sleep duration. dLAN birds did not associate (physical association) with novel object and birds spent significantly lesser time on perch with novel object as compared to LD. In colour learning task, night illuminated birds took more time to learn and made more error, compared to LD. dLAN significantly altered the 24-h daily behavioral rhythm (amplitude and acrophase) of feeding, drinking, preening, and perch-hopping behavior. In particular, birds extended their feeding hours in the nighttime under dLAN, with no difference in total food intake. Birds under dLAN increased fattening and hence significantly increased body mass. Our results show that dim light at night altered feeding rhythm, caused decrease in sleep behavior, and negatively affected learning and memory performance in male zebra finches.
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Aulsebrook AE, Johnsson RD, Lesku JA. Light, Sleep and Performance in Diurnal Birds. Clocks Sleep 2021; 3:115-131. [PMID: 33525352 PMCID: PMC7931117 DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep3010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep has a multitude of benefits and is generally considered necessary for optimal performance. Disruption of sleep by extended photoperiods, moonlight and artificial light could therefore impair performance in humans and non-human animals alike. Here, we review the evidence for effects of light on sleep and subsequent performance in birds. There is accumulating evidence that exposure to natural and artificial sources of light regulates and suppresses sleep in diurnal birds. Sleep also benefits avian cognitive performance, including during early development. Nevertheless, multiple studies suggest that light can prolong wakefulness in birds without impairing performance. Although there is still limited research on this topic, these results raise intriguing questions about the adaptive value of sleep. Further research into the links between light, sleep and performance, including the underlying mechanisms and consequences for fitness, could shed new light on sleep evolution and urban ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E. Aulsebrook
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.D.J.); (J.A.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Robin D. Johnsson
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.D.J.); (J.A.L.)
| | - John A. Lesku
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; (R.D.J.); (J.A.L.)
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