Hormonally mediated effects of artificial light at night on behavior and fitness: linking endocrine mechanisms with function.

Ouyang, J. Q., Davies, S. and Dominoni, D. (2018) Hormonally mediated effects of artificial light at night on behavior and fitness: linking endocrine mechanisms with function. Journal of Experimental Biology, 221(6), jeb156893. (doi: 10.1242/jeb.156893) (PMID:29545373) (PMCID:PMC5897701)

Abstract

Alternation between day and night is a predictable environmental fluctuation that organisms use to time their activities. Since the invention of artificial lighting, this predictability has been disrupted and continues to change in a unidirectional fashion with increasing urbanization. As hormones mediate individual responses to changing environments, endocrine systems might be one of the first systems affected, as well as being the first line of defense to ameliorate any negative health impacts. In this Review, we first highlight how light can influence endocrine function in vertebrates. We then focus on four endocrine axes that might be affected by artificial light at night (ALAN): pineal, reproductive, adrenal and thyroid. Throughout, we highlight key findings, rather than performing an exhaustive review, in order to emphasize knowledge gaps that are hindering progress on proposing impactful and concrete plans to ameliorate the negative effects of ALAN. We discuss these findings with respect to impacts on human and animal health, with a focus on the consequences of anthropogenic modification of the night-time environment for non-human organisms. Lastly, we stress the need for the integration of field and lab experiments as well as the need for long-term integrative eco-physiological studies in the rapidly expanding field of light pollution.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: J.Q.O. and S.D. thank the University of Nevada, Reno for support. D.D. is supported by an Open Competition grant of the Dutch Science Academy (NWO). J.Q.O. is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number P20 GM103650.
• Keywords: ALAN, glucocorticoid, hormones, light pollution, melatonin, metabolism, sleep, stress, thyroid, urban ecology
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dominoni, Dr Davide
• Authors: Ouyang, J. Q., Davies, S., and Dominoni, D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Publisher: Company of Biologists
• ISSN: 0022-0949
• ISSN (Online): 1477-9145
• Published Online: 15 March 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Company of Biologists Ltd
• First Published: First published in Journal of Experimental Biology 221(6):jeb156893
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher