Efeito da condição claro/escuro e da intensidade luminosa na aprendizagem e memória de trabalho de camundongos Swiss

Abstract

In an organism, the circadian system modulates many physiological and behavioral processes such as learning and memory. Additionally, melatonin has also been shown to modulate these cognitive processes. However, different lighting programs are used in production animal and the melatonin has been used as a food supplement and in the treatment of circadian rhythmic changes. Therefore, there is need for more studies be conducted on the effects caused by manipulations in the circadian rhythm and by melatonin. Because both are directly related to lighting, this study aimed to investigate the effect of different light/dark conditions in stock room and light intensity during behavioral tests in learning and working memory of Swiss mice. In a stock room, Swiss mice were kept on a 12:12 light/dark cycle (C), constant light (L) or constant darkness (E). They were tested in the Lashley III maze and Object-recognition task under 500 or 0 lx illuminations, resulting in six treatments (C500, C0, L500, L0, E0 and E500). There wasn´t significant difference between 12:12 light/dark cycle, constant light and constant darkness conditions in stock room neither between the tests conducted at 500 and 0 lx. Only animals kept in constant darkness and tested at 0 lx, E0 treatment, had impaired learning and working memory, demonstrated by slower learning in the Lashley III maze and the non-recognition of the object in Object-recognition task.