Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: ABSTRACT Life evolved under broad-spectrum sunlight (300–3500 nm), but most modern light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit within a restricted visible range (350-650 nm) leaving lighting environments that are short-wavelength dominant. We ask if chronic 450nm exposure dominant in LEDs alters metabolism and organ integrity in ageing mice environmentally exposed at 13 mW/cm² for 5 h/day over 40 weeks, at an intensity within the range of human environmental exposures. Mice exhibited progressive weight gain despite reduced food intake, with altered glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity over time. White adipose tissue mass increased, while brown adipose tissue weight and UCP1 protein levels remained unchanged. Relative organ weights (heart, liver, kidney, testis) were each reduced by ∼10%, with histopathology revealing fat deposition, hepatocellular degeneration, renal tubular damage, steatosis, and impaired testicular architecture. These findings demonstrate that chronic 450 nm light exposure is associated with metabolic alterations and multiorgan pathology in mice.
Institutions: Kuwait University, University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Kuwait University
Award: G1381565724
OpenAlex ID: W7213454243