Author(s)

Megumi Horibe, Yuta Yoshino, Shinichi Domoto, Maho Nakamura, Masamitsu Shimazawa, Hideaki Hara

Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.

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.

Blue LED Light, Maternal Behavior, Daytime, Retina, Brain

Horibe, M. , Yoshino, Y. , Domoto, S. , Nakamura, M. , Shimazawa, M. and Hara, H. (2017) The Effects of Blue LED Light on Behavior and Retinal Function in Maternal and Offspring Mice. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 7, 348-359. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2017.78026.