Blue-Light-Blocking Lenses Ameliorate Structural Alterations in the Rodent Hippocampus

Elizebeth O. Akansha, Bang V. Bui, Shonraj B. Ganeshrao, Pugazhandhi Bakthavatchalam, Sivakumar Gopalakrishnan, Susmitha Mattam, Radhika R. Poojary, Judith S. Jathanna, Judy Jose and Nagarajan N. Theruveethi ()
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Elizebeth O. Akansha: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Bang V. Bui: Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Shonraj B. Ganeshrao: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Pugazhandhi Bakthavatchalam: Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Sivakumar Gopalakrishnan: Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Susmitha Mattam: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Radhika R. Poojary: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Judith S. Jathanna: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Judy Jose: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Nagarajan N. Theruveethi: Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: Evidence suggests that prolonged blue-light exposure can impact vision; however, less is known about its impact on non-visual higher-order functions in the brain, such as learning and memory. Blue-light-blocking lenses (BBLs) claim to reduce these potential impacts. Hence, we assessed structural and functional hippocampal alterations following blue-light exposure and the protective efficacy of BBLs. Male Wistar rats were divided into (n = 6 in each group) normal control (NC), blue-light exposure (LE), and blue-light with BBLs (Crizal Prevencia, CP and DuraVision Blue, DB) groups. After 28 days of light exposure (12:12 light: dark cycle), rats were trained for the Morris water maze memory retention test, and brain tissues were sectioned for hippocampal neuronal analysis using Golgi and Cresyl violet stains. The memory retention test was significantly delayed ( p < 0.05) in LE compared with DB groups on day 1 of training. Comparison of Golgi-stained neurons showed significant structural alterations, particularly in the basal dendrites of hippocampal neurons in the LE group, with BBLs significantly mitigating these structural changes ( p < 0.05). Comparison of Cresyl-violet-stained neurons revealed significantly ( p < 0.001) increased degenerated hippocampal neurons in LE rats, with fewer degenerated neurons in the CP lens group for CA1 neurons ( p < 0.05), and for both CP and DB groups ( p < 0.05) for CA3 neurons. Thus, in addition to documented effects on visual centers, high-level blue-light exposure also results in degeneration in hippocampal neurons with associated behavioral deficits. These changes can be partially ameliorated with blue-light-blocking lenses.

Keywords: light-emitting diodes (LEDs); hippocampus; behavior analysis; retinal damage; blue-light blocking lenses (BBLs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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