Dissociating the Effects of Light at Night from Circadian Misalignment in a Neurodevelopmental Disorder Mouse Model Using Ultradian Light-Dark Cycles.

ABSTRACT: Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often experience sleep disturbances and are frequently exposed to light during nighttime hours. Our previous studies using the Cntnap2 knockout (KO) mouse model of NDDs demonstrated that nighttime light exposure increases behaviors such as excessive grooming, reduces social interactions, and disrupts daily locomotor rhythms. To further evaluate the effects of nighttime light exposure, we exposed wild-type (WT) and Cntnap2 KO mice to an ultradian lighting cycle (T7), which alternates 3.5 hours of light and 3.5 hours of darkness. Circadian rhythms in activity, corticosterone levels, and clock gene expression are maintained under T7 lighting despite the presence of light during the usual night phase, whilst animals display inc

SUBMITTER: Villanueva SAMB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12236487 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature