Abstract:

To investigate the effects of different light intensities on the behavior changes, learning memory ability and oxidative stress inTupaia belangeri, body mass, food intake, behavior and correct response rate in Y-maze, concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), as well as activities of SOD, AChE and NOS were measured in T. belangeri, which were continuously exposed to 628, 1 256 and 2 512lx. The results showed that body mass had significant differences among three groups, changes of food intake were similar to body mass in T. belangeri. Higher light intensity reduced feeding behavior and increased resting behavior significantly. On day 28, there was a significant difference in recognition accuracy among different light intensity groups. Different light intensity had significant effects on the concentrations of MDA, concentration and activity of SOD, and the activities of NOS and AChE. All of the results indicated that higher light intensity reduced body mass and feeding behavior, increased rest behavior, and induced cognitive impairment and caused different degrees of oxidative damage in T. belangeri.

Key words: Tupaia belangeri, light intensity, behavior, memory, oxidative stress