Exposure to light-at-night increases the growth of DMBA-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in rats.

Abstract

In order to assess whether light exposure at night influences the growth of mammary tumors, as well as the role of melatonin in this process, female rats bearing DMBA-induced mammary adenocarcinomas were exposed to different lighting environments. Animals exposed to light-at-night, especially those under a constant dim light during the darkness phase, showed: (a) significantly higher rates of tumor growth as well as lower survival than controls, (b) higher concentration of serum estradiol, and (c) lower nocturnal excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, without there being differences between nocturnal and diurnal levels. These results suggest that circadian and endocrine disruption induced by light pollution, could induce the growth of mammary tumors.

• Authors: Samuel Cos, Dolores Mediavilla, Carlos Martínez-Campa, Alicia González, Carolina Alonso-González, Emilio J Sánchez-Barceló
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 235 Issue 2 Pg. 266-71 (Apr 28 2006) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15950374 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 6-sulfatoxymelatonin
• Estradiol
• 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
• Melatonin

Topics

• 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
• Adenocarcinoma (chemically induced, pathology)
• Animals
• Body Weight
• Circadian Rhythm
• Darkness
• Estradiol (blood)
• Estrus
• Female
• Light
• Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental (chemically induced, mortality, pathology)
• Melatonin (analogs & derivatives, urine)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Survival Rate