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Main Authors: Frigato, Elena, De Russi, Gaia, Vergata, Chiara, Codogno, Giuditta, Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone, Cannicci, Stefano, Fratini, Sara, Bertolucci, Cristiano
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: The Science of the total environment 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41389779/
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author Frigato, Elena
De Russi, Gaia
Vergata, Chiara
Codogno, Giuditta
Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone
Cannicci, Stefano
Fratini, Sara
Bertolucci, Cristiano
author_facet Frigato, Elena
De Russi, Gaia
Vergata, Chiara
Codogno, Giuditta
Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone
Cannicci, Stefano
Fratini, Sara
Bertolucci, Cristiano
Frigato, Elena
De Russi, Gaia
Vergata, Chiara
Codogno, Giuditta
Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone
Cannicci, Stefano
Fratini, Sara
Bertolucci, Cristiano
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Impact of artificial light at night on zebrafish circadian rhythms: Insights from behavioural and molecular data. Frigato, Elena De Russi, Gaia Vergata, Chiara Codogno, Giuditta Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone Cannicci, Stefano Fratini, Sara Bertolucci, Cristiano Animals Zebrafish Circadian Rhythm Lighting Behavior, Animal Light Photoperiod Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an emerging environmental stressor that alters natural light cycles and disrupts circadian regulation across a wide range of species and ecosystems. By interfering with the environmental cues that have shaped circadian timekeeping mechanisms, ALAN poses a growing concern for circadian physiology and behaviour. In this study, we investigated the effects of ALAN on behavioural and molecular rhythmicity in the diurnal teleost Danio rerio, the zebrafish. Fish were exposed to either a natural light-dark (L:D) cycle or a light-ALAN (L:ALAN) regimen. Locomotor activity recordings revealed alterations in behavioural pattern mostly associated to arrhythmicity under ALAN, whereas L:D exposed fish exhibited robust circadian rhythms with clear diurnal patterns. To explore the molecular basis of this disruption, we performed RNA sequencing on brain tissue collected at four time points across the day. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of core circadian clock and opsin genes in ALAN exposed zebrafish. Both positive and negative regulators of the molecular clock exhibited reduced rhythmic amplitude, indicating a dampening of endogenous circadian oscillations. These results demonstrate that ALAN profoundly affects both behavioural and molecular circadian rhythms in zebrafish. Given the widespread use of artificial lighting and its known ecological impacts, our findings highlight the need for integrative approaches, linking molecular, physiological, and behavioural data, to better understand the biological impacts of light pollution. Such insights are critical for informing conservation strategies and mitigating the effects of ALAN on wildlife and ecosystems.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41389779
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher The Science of the total environment
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Impact of artificial light at night on zebrafish circadian rhythms: Insights from behavioural and molecular data.
Frigato, Elena
De Russi, Gaia
Vergata, Chiara
Codogno, Giuditta
Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone
Cannicci, Stefano
Fratini, Sara
Bertolucci, Cristiano
Animals
Zebrafish
Circadian Rhythm
Lighting
Behavior, Animal
Light
Photoperiod
Impact of artificial light at night on zebrafish circadian rhythms: Insights from behavioural and molecular data. Frigato, Elena De Russi, Gaia Vergata, Chiara Codogno, Giuditta Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone Cannicci, Stefano Fratini, Sara Bertolucci, Cristiano Animals Zebrafish Circadian Rhythm Lighting Behavior, Animal Light Photoperiod Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an emerging environmental stressor that alters natural light cycles and disrupts circadian regulation across a wide range of species and ecosystems. By interfering with the environmental cues that have shaped circadian timekeeping mechanisms, ALAN poses a growing concern for circadian physiology and behaviour. In this study, we investigated the effects of ALAN on behavioural and molecular rhythmicity in the diurnal teleost Danio rerio, the zebrafish. Fish were exposed to either a natural light-dark (L:D) cycle or a light-ALAN (L:ALAN) regimen. Locomotor activity recordings revealed alterations in behavioural pattern mostly associated to arrhythmicity under ALAN, whereas L:D exposed fish exhibited robust circadian rhythms with clear diurnal patterns. To explore the molecular basis of this disruption, we performed RNA sequencing on brain tissue collected at four time points across the day. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of core circadian clock and opsin genes in ALAN exposed zebrafish. Both positive and negative regulators of the molecular clock exhibited reduced rhythmic amplitude, indicating a dampening of endogenous circadian oscillations. These results demonstrate that ALAN profoundly affects both behavioural and molecular circadian rhythms in zebrafish. Given the widespread use of artificial lighting and its known ecological impacts, our findings highlight the need for integrative approaches, linking molecular, physiological, and behavioural data, to better understand the biological impacts of light pollution. Such insights are critical for informing conservation strategies and mitigating the effects of ALAN on wildlife and ecosystems.
title Impact of artificial light at night on zebrafish circadian rhythms: Insights from behavioural and molecular data.
topic Animals
Zebrafish
Circadian Rhythm
Lighting
Behavior, Animal
Light
Photoperiod
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41389779/