The effects of light intensity on the voluntary exercise level of rats in an enriched environment / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of light at different intensities and an enriched environment (EE) on rats' level of voluntary exercise,and to explore the resulting benefits.Methods Thirty male SpragueDawley rats were tested successively under 4 different experimental conditionsEE + strong light,EE + dim light,open-field environment (OFE)+ strong light and OFE + dim light.Each rat's path in the different conditions was recorded using an automated tracking system.Distance moved (m),velocity (m/s),mobile duration (s),mobile frequency,moving duration (s) and moving frequency were recorded over a one-hour period. ResultsThe EE rats were significantly more active than the OFE rats in both strong and dim light.All rats were more mobile under dim light than under strong light.Conclusion Environment and light intensity are independent factors affecting rats' voluntary exercise levels,and they can exert their influence in synergy.