Dim artificial light at night alters immediate early gene expression throughout the avian brain
Data files
Sep 21, 2023 version files 46.87 KB
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Behavior.csv
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cfos_df.csv
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README.md
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive pollutant that alters physiology and behavior. However, the underlying mechanisms triggering these alterations are unknown, as previous work shows that dim levels of ALAN may have a masking effect, bypassing the central clock. Light stimulates neuronal activity in numerous brain regions which could in turn activate downstream effectors regulating physiological response. In the present study, taking advantage of immediate early gene (IEG) expression as a proxy for neuronal activity, we determined the brain regions activated in response to ALAN. We exposed zebra finches to dim ALAN (1.5 lux) and analyzed 24 regions throughout the brain. We found that the overall expression of two different IEGs, cFos and ZENK, in birds exposed to ALAN were significantly different from birds inactive at night. Additionally, we found that ALAN-exposed birds had significantly different IEG expression from birds inactive at night and active during the day in several brain areas associated with vision, movement, learning and memory, pain processing, and hormone regulation. These results give insight into the mechanistic pathways responding to ALAN that underlie downstream, well-documented behavioral and physiological changes.
Dim artificial light at night alters immediate early gene expression throughout the avian brain
This is the raw data for the manuscript
cfos_df
bird = individual bird
group = treatment
active = birds separated into only two groups of active or inactive (total minutes of activity <1 minute) 90 minutes before perfusion
pathway = related pathway for brain region
area = area of the brain in abbreviations, see manuscript for detailed area name
slice = number of slices for that bird for that area
cFos_exact = exact percent of cFos+ cells
ZENK_exact = exact percent of ZENK+ cells
cFos_Int = an interger for analysis, it is the exact percent multiplied by 10
ZENK_Int = an interger for analysis, it is the exact percent multiplied by 10
Total = total percent of DAPI cells for exact
Total = total percent of DAPI cells for intergers, total percent multiplied by 10
cFos_percent = exact percent of cFos+ cells
cFos = rounded percet of cFos+ cells
ZENK_percent = exact percent of ZENK+ cells
ZENK = rounded percent of ZENK+ cells
Behavior
bird = individual bird
treatment = treatment
behavior = birds' behavior
time = time spent doing specific behavior in minutes
total = total time of recording
percent = percent of time doing specific behavior