Environmental lighting and neuroendocrine function: relationship between spectrum of light source and gonadal growth.

Rats were born and reared under a standard light source (cool-white fluorescent bulbs) or a source which more closely simulates the solar spectrum (Vita-Lite bulbs). They werekilled at 50 days of age and various organs were weighed. Both male and female rats exposed toillumination from cool-white bulbs had smaller gonads and larger spleens than animals maintained under the more physiological source. (Endocrinology85: 1218, 1969)