Does photoperiod during development have long-term effects on sleep and the circadian rhythm?

Rick van Dorp
PhD candidate at the Leiden University Medical Center, investigating photoperiods, sex differences and development in the context of sleep and circadian rhythms, using animal models.
Perinatal Photoperiod has long-term effects
Previous research has suggested a long-term effect of photoperiod during development, both before and after birth: the perinatal period. We wanted to assess the long-term effects of perinatal photoperiod on sleep and the circadian rhythm in a mouse strain with a rhythmic melatonin pattern.
We investigated sleep and activity patterns with electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) and wheel-running activity in male and female mice developed in either a short photoperiod with 8 hours of light and 16 hours of darkness, or a long photoperiod with 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The mothers and the pups were exposed to this ‘seasonal’ photoperiod from before birth the birth of the pups until weaning, and all young mice were then exposed to an equinox photoperiod with 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness for at least 3 weeks before assessment.
We found that the adults from the short perinatal photoperiod showed a longer activity phase in their running wheel activity and less sleep during their inactive (light) phase than the adults that had developed in a long photoperiod. No difference was observed in circadian parameters like phase shifting capacity and free-running period in constant darkness, and also no difference in the REM-NREM distribution within sleep was observed.
We can confirm that perinatal photoperiod has long-term effects on circadian behaviour and sleep in mice: a species that generally shows a relatively small photoperiodic adaptation, and therefore with possible implications for other animals with relatively small seasonal responses, like humans. This adds to the emerging evidence for lasting effects of season during development on sleep.
Article and infographic based on:
van Dorp R, Deboer T. (2024) Perinatal Photoperiod Has Long-Term Effects on the Rest-Activity Cycle and Sleep in Male and Female Mice. J Biol Rhythms
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