In the present study, we investigated whether blue light emission diode (LED) light exposure affects the maternal behavior of mice. The brain function of the offspring mice, including short-term memory, locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and depression-like behavior, was evaluated. Pregnant mice at day 11 were housed in the apparatus for exposure to blue LED light during the daytime. Nesting behavior and the survival of pups were observed until weaning. After weaning, the offspring mice were bred in normal light conditions until 12 weeks old, and then the Y-maze test, open field test, and tail suspension test were performed. Retinal functions were evaluated by electroretinogram and histological analysis. Blue LED light exposure during the daytime induced retinal damage, but did not affect behavior related to maternal care in maternal mice. In the offspring mice, blue LED light exposure during the daytime did not affect the retina or brain functions. These findings suggest that blue LED light during the daytime might not be a risk factor for disruption of the mother-infant relationship or offspring brain development in mice.
KeywordsBlue LED LightMaternal BehaviorDaytimeRetinaBrain
Grimm, C., Wenzel, A., Williams, T., Rol, P., Hafezi, F. and Reme, C. (2001) Rhodopsin-Mediated Blue-Light Damage to the Rat Retina: Effect of Photoreversal of Bleaching. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 42, 497-505.
Kuse, Y., Ogawa, K., Tsuruma, K., Shimazawa, M. and Hara, H. (2014) Damage of Photoreceptor-Derived Cells in Culture Induced by Light Emitting Diode-Derived Blue Light. Scientific Reports, 4, 5223. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05223
Nakamura, M., Kuse, Y., Tsuruma, K., Shimazawa, M. and Hara H. (2017) The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress in Murine Blue LED Light-Induced Retinal Damage Model. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 40, 1219-1225. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b16-01008
Hattar, S., Liao, H.W., Takao, M., Berson, D.M. and Yau, K.W. (2002) Melanopsin-Containing Retinal Ganglion Cells: Architecture, Projections, and Intrinsic Photosensitivity. Science, 295, 1065-1070. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1069609
Tosini, G., Ferguson, I. and Tsubota, K. (2016) Effects of Blue Light on the Circadian System and Eye Physiology. Molecular Vision, 22, 61-72.
Cheung, I.N., Zee, P.C., Shalman, D., Malkani, R.G., Kang, J. and Reid, K.J. (2016) Morning and Evening Blue-Enriched Light Exposure Alters Metabolic Function in Normal Weight Adults. PLoS ONE, 11, e0155601. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155601
Noirot, E. (1969) Serial Order of Maternal Responses in Mice. Animal Behaviour, 17, 547-550. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(69)90162-6
Numan, M. (1988) Neural Basis of Maternal Behavior in the Rat. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 13, 47-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(88)90006-6
Kuroda, K.O., Tachikawa, K., Yoshida, S., Tsuneoka, Y. and Numan, M. (2011) Neuromolecular Basis of Parental Behavior in Laboratory Mice and Rats: With Special Emphasis on Technical Issues of Using Mouse Genetics. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 35, 1205-1231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.02.008
Li, M., Xue, X., Shao, S., Shao, F. and Wang, W. (2013) Cognitive, Emotional and Neurochemical Effects of Repeated Maternal Separation in Adolescent Rats. Brain Research, 1518, 82-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2013.04.026
Deacon, R.M. (2006) Assessing Nest Building in Mice. Nature Protocols, 1, 1117-1119. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2006.170
Hess, S.E., Rohr, S., Dufour, B.D., Gaskill, B.N., Pajor, E.A. and Garner, J.P. (2008) Home Improvement: C57BL/6J Mice Given More Naturalistic Nesting Materials Build Better Nests. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 47, 25-31.
Ishisaka, M., Kakefuda, K., Oyagi, A., Ono, Y., Tsuruma, K., Shimazawa, M., Kitaichi, K. and Hara, H. (2012) Diacylglycerol Kinase Beta Knockout Mice Exhibit Attention-Deficit Behavior and an Abnormal Response on Methylphenidate-Induced Hyperactivity. PLoS One, 7, e37058. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0037058
Kakefuda, K., Ishisaka, M., Tsuruma, K., Shimazawa, M. and Hara, H. (2016) Memantine, an NMDA Receptor Antagonist, Improves Working Memory Deficits in DGK Beta Knockout Mice. Neuroscience Letters, 630, 228-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2016.07.061
Ishisaka, M., Kakefuda, K., Yamauchi, M., Tsuruma, K., Shimazawa, M., Tsuruta, A. and Hara, H. (2011) Luteolin Shows an Antidepressant-Like Effect via Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 34, 1481-1486. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.34.1481
Marsteller, F.A. and Lynch, C.B. (1987) Reproductive Responses to Variation in Temperature and Food Supply by House Mice: II. Lactation. Biology of Reproduction, 37, 844-850. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod37.4.844
Wang, Z. and Storm, D.R. (2011) Maternal Behavior Is Impaired in Female Mice Lacking Type 3 Adenylyl Cyclase. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36, 772-781. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2010.211
Gandelman, R., Zarrow, M.X., Denenberg, V.H. and Myers, M. (1971) Olfactory Bulb Removal Eliminates Maternal Behavior in the Mouse. Science, 171, 210-211. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.171.3967.210
Smotherman, W.P., Bell, R.W., Starzec, J., Elias, J. and Zachman, T.A. (1974) Maternal Responses to Infant Vocalizations and Olfactory Cues in Rats and Mice. Behavioral Biology, 12, 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-6773(74)91026-8
Herrenkohl, L.R. and Rosenberg, P.A. (1972) Exteroceptive Stimulation of Maternal Behavior in the Naive Rat. Physiology & Behavior, 8, 595-598. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(72)90080-7
Ma, W.P., Cao, J., Tian, M., Cui, M.H., Han, H.L., Yang, Y.X. and Xu, L. (2007) Exposure to Chronic Constant Light Impairs Spatial Memory and Influences Long-Term Depression in Rats. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 59, 224-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neures.2007.06.1474
Fonken, L.K., Finy, M.S., Walton, J.C., Weil, Z.M., Workman, J.L., Ross, J. and Nelson, R.J. (2009) Influence of Light at Night on Murine Anxiety- and Depressive-Like Responses. Behavioural Brain Research, 205, 349-354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.07.001
Melo, M.C., Garcia, R.F., Linhares Neto, V.B., Sa, M.B., de Mesquita, L.M., de Araujo, C.F. and de Bruin, V.M. (2016) Sleep and Circadian Alterations in People at Risk for Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 83, 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.09.005
Chaudhury, D., Wang, L.M. and Colwell, C.S. (2005) Circadian Regulation of Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 20, 225-236. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730405276352
Gale, J.E., Cox, H.I., Qian, J., Block, G.D., Colwell, C.S. and Matveyenko, A.V. (2011) Disruption of Circadian Rhythms Accelerates Development of Diabetes through Pancreatic Beta-Cell Loss and Dysfunction. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 26, 423-433. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730411416341
Christakis, D.A., Ramirez, J.S. and Ramirez, J.M. (2012) Overstimulation of Newborn Mice Leads to Behavioral Differences and Deficits in Cognitive Performance. Scientific Reports, 2, 546. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00546
Domoto, S., Ohba, T., Yoshino, Y., Horibe, M., Yako, T., Shimazawa, M. and Hara, H. (2017) Exposure to Blue LED Light at Subjective Daytime Does Not Affect the Brain Function in the Pigmented Mice. Journal of Science and Technology in Lighting. (In Press)