Artificial light at night affects brain plasticity and melatonin in birds

Moaraf, Stan; Vistoropsky, Yulia; Pozner, Tatyana; Heiblum, R.; Okuliarova, Monika; Zeman, Michal; Barnea, Amir

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134639

Cited by 48 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…This decrease in total neuronal densities, despite the increase in proliferation, suggests a net neuronal death. Taken together, the findings in our previous study [ 8 ] add to the notion of the deleterious effects of ALAN.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…We have also studied the effect of ALAN on neuronal plasticity in another diurnal species, zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), which have excellent visual abilities [ 5 ] and their physiology, reproduction and survival are greatly affected by circadian and circannual rhythms [ 6 , 7 ]. Our recent study [ 8 ] was the first to demonstrate that ALAN increases cell proliferation in brains of diurnal birds. More specifically, we found, in female zebra finches, that ecologically relevant intensities (0.5, 1.5, and 5 lux) of ALAN significantly increased cell proliferation in the ventricular zone (VZ), from which, in birds, the new cells migrate to the telencephalon, differentiate into neurons and settle in various brain regions [ 9 , 10 ], where they are recruited into functional circuits [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, we recorded a decrease in total neuronal densities under ALAN exposure in the nidopallium caudale (NC), the medial striatum (MSt), and the HC, compared with controls [ 8 ]. The NC contains auditory relays [ 12 ], is involved in vocal communication, and in the integration of auditory information [ 13 , 14 ]; the MSt is part of the avian somatomotor basal ganglia [ 15 ] and is linked to visual perception and associative learning [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], and the HC processes spatial information [ 19 , 20 ] and plays a role in stress response [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We exposed female zebra finches to ALAN for 7 weeks, and compared the recruitment of new neurons and total neuronal densities in selected brain regions (MSt, NC, HC) with control birds that were kept under dark nights. The ALAN intensity that we used was 5 lux, as it is ecologically relevant to birds [ 22 , 23 ] and had the greatest effect on cell proliferation in the VZ in our previous study [ 8 ]. In addition, in the present study, ALAN exposure was longer than in our previous one, to allow enough time for the new neurons to arrive at their final destination, and to check whether the previous exposure to ALAN was too short for the brain to reach an equilibrium between neuronal death and compensatory neuronal recruitment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, in the present study, ALAN exposure was longer than in our previous one, to allow enough time for the new neurons to arrive at their final destination, and to check whether the previous exposure to ALAN was too short for the brain to reach an equilibrium between neuronal death and compensatory neuronal recruitment. We also measured plasma melatonin (MEL) concentrations as a key output of the central clock and which we previously showed was suppressed in response to a 3-week ALAN exposure in female zebra finches [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Artificial Light at Night Increases Recruitment of New Neurons and Differentially Affects Various Brain Regions in Female Zebra Finches

Moaraf

Heiblum

Vistoropsky

et al. 2020

IJMS

Self Cite

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Despite growing evidence that demonstrate adverse effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on many species, relatively little is known regarding its effects on brain plasticity in birds. We recently showed that although ALAN increases cell proliferation in brains of birds, neuronal densities in two brain regions decreased, indicating neuronal death, which might be due to mortality of newly produced neurons or of existing ones. Therefore, in the present study we studied the effect of long-term ALAN on the recruitment of newborn neurons into their target regions in the brain. Accordingly, we exposed zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to 5 lux ALAN, and analysed new neuronal recruitment and total neuronal densities in several brain regions. We found that ALAN increased neuronal recruitment, possibly as a compensatory response to ALAN-induced neuronal death, and/or due to increased nocturnal locomotor activity caused by sleep disruption. Moreover, ALAN also had a differential temporal effect on neuronal densities, because hippocampus was more sensitive to ALAN and its neuronal densities were more affected than in other brain regions. Nocturnal melatonin levels under ALAN were significantly lower compared to controls, indicating that very low ALAN intensities suppress melatonin not only in nocturnal, but also in diurnal species.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Artificial Light at Night Increases Recruitment of New Neurons and Differentially Affects Various Brain Regions in Female Zebra Finches

Moaraf

Heiblum

Vistoropsky

et al. 2020

IJMS

Self Cite

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Light at night disrupts biological clocks, calendars, and immune function

et al. 2021

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Artificial light at night suppresses the day-night cardiovascular variability: evidence from humans and rats

Molcan,

Babarikova,

Cvikova

et al. 2024

Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol

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Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects most of the population. Through the retinohypothalamic tract, ALAN modulates the activity of the central circadian oscillator and, consequently, various physiological systems, including the cardiovascular one. We summarised the current knowledge about the effects of ALAN on the cardiovascular system in diurnal and nocturnal animals. Based on published data, ALAN reduces the day-night variability of the blood pressure and heart rate in diurnal and nocturnal animals by increasing the nocturnal values of cardiovascular variables in diurnal animals and decreasing them in nocturnal animals. The effects of ALAN on the cardiovascular system are mainly transmitted through the autonomic nervous system. ALAN is also considered a stress-inducing factor, as glucocorticoid and glucose level changes indicate. Moreover, in nocturnal rats, ALAN increases the pressure response to load. In addition, ALAN induces molecular changes in the heart and blood vessels. Changes in the cardiovascular system significantly depend on the duration of ALAN exposure. To some extent, alterations in physical activity can explain the changes observed in the cardiovascular system after ALAN exposure. Although ALAN acts differently on nocturnal and diurnal animals, we can conclude that both exhibit a weakened circadian coordination among physiological systems, which increases the risk of future cardiovascular complications and reduces the ability to anticipate stress.

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Artificial light at night affects brain plasticity and melatonin in birds

Cited by 48 publications

References 60 publications

Artificial Light at Night Increases Recruitment of New Neurons and Differentially Affects Various Brain Regions in Female Zebra Finches

Artificial Light at Night Increases Recruitment of New Neurons and Differentially Affects Various Brain Regions in Female Zebra Finches

Light at night disrupts biological clocks, calendars, and immune function

Artificial light at night suppresses the day-night cardiovascular variability: evidence from humans and rats

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