Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
Brain Behav Immun. 2013 Nov;34:39-42. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2013.05.009. Epub 2013 Jun 4.
Several physiological and behavioral processes rely on precisely timed light information derived from the natural solar cycle. Using this information, traits have adapted to allow individuals within specific niches to optimize survival and reproduction, but urbanization by humans has significantly altered natural habitats. Nighttime light exposure alters immune function in several species, which could lead to decreased fitness or survival, particularly in the face of an environmental challenge. We exposed male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) to five lux of light at night for four weeks, and then administered six hours of acute restraint stress. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was assessed immediately following stress. Acute restraint increased the DTH reaction in dark nights, but exposure to nighttime light prevented this response. Exposure to light at night prolonged the DTH response in non-stressed control hamsters. These results suggest that light pollution may significantly alter physiological responses in Siberian hamsters, particularly in response to a salient environmental challenge such as stress.
几种生理和行为过程依赖于从自然太阳周期中获得的精确计时的光信息。利用这些信息，特征已经适应，允许特定生态位内的个体优化生存和繁殖，但人类的城市化已经显著改变了自然栖息地。夜间光照会改变几种物种的免疫功能，这可能导致适应性降低或生存能力下降，尤其是在面临环境挑战时。我们让雄性沙鼠（Phodopus sungorus）在夜间接受五勒克斯的光照四周，然后进行六小时的急性束缚应激。应激后立即评估迟发型超敏反应（DTH）反应。急性束缚应激增加了暗夜中的 DTH 反应，但夜间光照暴露阻止了这种反应。夜间光照暴露延长了非应激对照沙鼠的 DTH 反应。这些结果表明，光污染可能会显著改变沙鼠的生理反应，特别是在应对突出的环境挑战（如应激）时。
