Influence of different illumination modes on reproductive activity and rates of physiological development in rats’ offspring

The influence of different lighting regimes on the reproductive activity in rats and the rate of physiological development in their offspring are studied. In the course of the experiment, female rats during pregnancy and their offspring were subjected to different lighting modes (standard, permanent, natural). It was found out that violation of the standard alternation of light and darkness during pregnancy period affected both the incidence of pregnancies and the number of offspring. Light pollution in the perinatal period of ontogenesis also led to the violation of speed in physiological development of rats’ offspring. The rate of sexual maturation in female species was higher then in male species. The most pronounced negative effect on the development of offspring was observed in conditions of constant light preserved in the postnatal period. Exposure to natural illumination in the ante-and postnatal period of ontogenesis during Karelian fall period, characterized by low level of illumination, led to the loss of pace in rats’ physiological development: delay in growing lanugo hair, delay in pinna detachment, and delay in sexual maturation. These deviations were registered when the data were compared with the similar data obtained under the regime of standard alternating mode of lightning.