Nocturnal Light Pollution Induces Weight Gain in Mice and Reshapes the Structure, Functions, and Interactions of Their Colonic Microbiota.

ABSTRACT: In mammals, the daily variation in the ecology of the intestinal microbiota is tightly coupled to the circadian rhythm of the host. On the other hand, a close correlation between increased body weight and light pollution at night has been reported in humans and animal models. However, the mechanisms underlying such weight gain in response to light contamination at night remain elusive. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that dim light pollution at night alters the colonic microbiota of mice, which could correlate with weight gain in the animals. By developing an experimental protocol using a mouse model that mimics light contamination at night in urban residences (dLAN, dim light at night), we found that mice exposed to dLAN showed a significant weight gain compared with mice e

SUBMITTER: Sarmiento J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8836271 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature