Effects of artificial light with different spectral composition on eye axial growth in juvenile guinea pigs

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of artificial light with different spectral composition and distribution on axial growth in guinea pigs. Three-week-old guinea pigs were randomly assigned to groups exposed to tural light, low color temperature light-emitting diode (LED) light, two full spectrum artificial lights (E light and Julia light) and blue light filtered light with the same intensity. Axial lengths of guinea pigs’ eyes were measured by A-scan ultrasonography prior to the experiment and every 2 weeks during the experiment. After light exposure for 12 weeks, retil dopamine (DA), dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels and DOPAC/DA ratio were alyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography electrochemical detection and retil histological structure was observed. Retil melanopsin expression was detected using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. After exposed to different kinds of light with different spectrum for 4 weeks, the axial lengths of guinea pigs’ eyes in LED group and Julia light group were significantly longer than those of tural light group. After 6 weeks, the axial lengths in LED light group were significantly longer than those of E light group and blue light filtered group. The difference between axial lengths in E light group and Julia light group showed statistical significance after 8 weeks (p<0.05). After 12 weeks of light exposure, the comparison of retil DOPAC/DA ratio and melanopsin expression in each group was consistent with that of axial length. In guinea pigs, continuous full spectrum artificial light with no peak or valley can inhibit axial elongation via retil dopaminergic and melanopsin system.