Very cool white LED light improves reproductive performance and up-regulates expression of reproductive genes in layers

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of light color temperature on reproductive performance and the expression pattern of GnRH-1 and FSH β genes in layers. At lay, 165 Fayoumi healthy pullets were separated into well ventilated, environmentally controlled rooms. Birds were allocated into three groups with 55 birds each (5 males and 50 females) till 3 months after laying, representing base generation (F0). Fertile eggs were collected and incubated, and the newly hatched chicks were also divided into three groups from the first day of life till 3 months after laying, representing the first generation (F1). In the two generations, the first group was exposed to cool white LED light (day light) (6500 kelvin); the second group was exposed to very cool white LED light (sky blue light) (10000 kelvin); and the third group was exposed to warm white LED light (yellow light) (2700 kelvin). The expression profiles of GnRH-1 and FSH β genes and the serum level of FSH were evaluated in birds of the two generations. Blue light-exposed groups exhibited better reproductive performance, higher up-regulation of GnRH-1 and FSH β genes and increased FSH levels than those exposed to either the white or yellow light colors. A comparison between F0 and F1 revealed an improved profile for F1 birds. It therefore appears that blue LED light could improve the reproductive status of laying chickens.

Keywords

• Gene expression
• Layers
• light
• reproductive performance

Thanks

The authors acknowledge members of Department of Husbandry and Development of Animal Wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, for their valuable advice and cooperation.

References

1. Al-Nasser A, Al-Khalaifa H, Al-Saffar A, et al (2007): Overview of chicken taxonomy and domestication. World Poultry Sci J, 63, 285-300.
2. Anderson K, Tharrington J, Curtis P, et al (2004): Shell characteristics of eggs from historic strains of single comb white leghorn chickens and the relationship of egg shape to shell strength. Int J Poult Sci, 3, 17-19.
3. Baloch Z, Carayon P, Conte-devolx B, et al (2003): Laboratory medicine practice guidelines. Laboratory support for the diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Thyroid, 13, 3-126.
4. Baxter M, Joseph N, Osborne V, et al (2014): Red light is necessary to activate the reproductive axis in chickens independently of the retina of the eye. Poult Sci, 93, 1289-1297.
5. Bobadilla-Mendez M, Rojas-Granados C, Andrade E, et al (2016): Effect of different light sources on reproductive anatomy and physiology of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Anim Reprod Sci, 168, 50-56.
6. Borille R, Garcia R, Royer A, et al (2013): The use of light-emitting diodes (LED) in commercial layer production. Braz J Poult Sci, 15, 135-140.
7. Campbell RE, Gaidamaka G, Han S-K, et al (2009): Dendro-dendritic bundling and shared synapses between gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. Proc Nat Acad Sci, 106, 10835-10840.
8. Chang S, Lin M, Zhuang Z, et al (2016): Effect of monochromic light-emitting diode light with different color on the growth and reproductive performances of breeder geese. Asian Austral J Anim, 29, 830-837.

9. Davis AJ, Brooks CF, Johnson PA (2001): Follicle-stimulating hormone regulation of inhibin α-and βB-subunit and follistatin messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured avian granulosa cells. Biol Reprod, 64, 100-106.
10. Dungan HM, Clifton DK, Steiner RA (2006): Kisspeptin neurons as central processors in the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Endocrinology, 147, 1154-1158.
11. El Halawani M (2013): Light spectrum requirement for maximizing breeder hen turkey egg production. Gobbles, 70, 6-8.
12. El-Tarabany M (2002): Factors affecting egg production patterns in some commercial layer flocks. M.V.Sc, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
13. Farrell D (2013): The Role of Poultry in Human Nutrition, 2. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al712e/ al712e00.pdf. Accessed on: 1 July 2015.
14. Gharib SD, Roy A, Wierman ME, et al (1989): Isolation and characterization of the gene encoding the β-subunit of rat follicle-stimulating hormone. DNA, 8, 339-349.
15. Han S, Wang Y, Liu L, et al (2017): Influence of three lighting regimes during ten weeks growth phase on laying performance, plasma levels-and tissue specific gene expression-of reproductive hormones in Pengxian yellow pullets. PloS One, 12, e0177358.
16. Hartl FU, Hayer-Hartl M (2002): Molecular chaperones in the cytosol: from nascent chain to folded protein. Science, 295, 1852-1858.
17. Hassan R, Sultana S, Choe HS, et al (2013): Effect of Monochromatic and Combined Light Color on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ovarian Morphology and Reproductive Hormones in Laying Hens. Ital J Anim Sci, 12, 359-364.
18. Haugh R (1937): The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. U.S. egg & poultry magazine, 43, 522-555.
19. Hoyt DF (1979): Practical methods of estimating volume and fresh weight of bird eggs. The Auk, 96, 73-77.
20. Huber-Eicher B, Suter A, Spring-Stähli P (2013): Effects of colored light-emitting diode illumination on behavior and performance of laying hens. Poult Sci, 92, 869-873.
21. Johnson AL, Solovieva E, Bridgham J (2002): Relationship between steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression and progesterone production in hen granulosa cells during follicle development. Biol Reprod, 67, 1313-1320.
22. Kamanli S, Durmus I, Demir S, et al (2015): Effect of different light sources on performance and egg quality traits in laying hens. Eur Poult Sci, 79, 1-10.
23. Kang SW, Thayananuphat A, Rozenboim I, et al (2006): Expression of hypothalamic GnRH-I mRNA in the female turkey at different reproductive states and following photostimulation. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 146, 91-99.
24. Kaya M, Yildiz MA (2008): Genetic diversity among Turkish native chickens, Denizli and Gerze, estimated by microsatellite markers. Biochem Genet, 46, 480-491.
25. Knisley JR (1990): Updating light sources for new and existing facilities. EC&M, 89, 49-60.
26. Li D, Zhang L, Yang M, et al (2014): The effect of monochromatic light-emitting diode light on reproductive traits of laying hens. J Appl Poult Res, 23, 367-375.
27. Liu L, Li D, Gilbert ER, et al (2015): Effect of Monochromatic Light on Expression of Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR) in Ovarian Follicles of Chicken. PLoS One, 10, e0144102.
28. Mobarkey N, Avital N, Heiblum R, et al (2010): The role of retinal and extra-retinal photostimulation in reproductive activity in broiler breeder hens. Domest Anim Endocrinol, 38, 235-243.
29. Mobarkey N, Avital N, Heiblum R, et al (2013): The effect of parachlorophenylalanine and active immunization against vasoactive intestinal peptide on reproductive activities of broiler breeder hens photostimulated with green light. Biol Reprod, 88, 81-87.
30. Mohamed RA, Abou-Ismail UA, Shukry MC (2016): Effects of different monochromatic LED light colors on fear reactions and physiological responses in Mulard ducks. Anim Prod Sci, 57, 1128-1136.
31. Olanrewaju H, Purswell J, Maslin W, et al (2015): Effects of color temperatures (kelvin) of LED bulbs on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ocular development indices of broilers grown to heavy weights. Poult Sci, 94, 338-344.
32. Ozcelik M, Cerit H, Ekmen F, et al (2006): Effect of the hatching month as an environmental factor on the hatching features of bronze turkeys. Turk J Vet Anim Sci, 30, 243-249.
33. Pavan A, Garcia E, Mori C, et al (2005): Effect of cage stocking density on performance of laying hens during the growing and laying periods. Rev Bras Zootecn, 34, 1320-1328.
34. Prayitno DS, Philips CJ, Stokes DK (1997): The effects of color intensity of light on behavior and leg disorders in broiler chickens. Poult Sci, 76, 1674-1681.
35. Prevot V, Bellefontaine N, Baroncini M, et al (2010): Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone nerve terminals, tanycytes and neurohaemal junction remodelling in the adult median eminence: functional consequences for reproduction and dynamic role of vascular endothelial cells. J Neuroendocrinol, 22, 639-649.
36. Promwatee N, Laopaiboon B, Vongpralub T, et al (2013): Insulin-like growth factor I gene polymorphism associated with growth and carcass traits in Thai synthetic chickens. Genet Mol Res, 12, 4332-4341.
37. Reddy IJ, David CG, Selvaraju S, et al (2012): GnRH-1 mRNA, LH surges, steroid hormones, egg production, and intersequence pause days alter in birds exposed to longer wavelength of light in the later stages of production in Gallus gallus domesticus. Trop Anim Health Prod, 44, 1311-1317.
38. Rozenboim I, Biran I, Uni Z, et al (1999): The effect of monochromatic light on broiler growth and development. Poult Sci, 78, 135-138.
39. Rozenboim I, El Halawani M, Kashash Y, et al (2013): The effect of monochromatic photostimulation on growth and development of broiler birds. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 190, 214-219.
40. Rozenboim I, Biran Y, Chaiseha S, et al (2004): The effect of a green and blue monochromatic light combination on broiler growth and development. Poult Sci, 83, 842-845.
41. Saari JC (2012): Vitamin A Metabolism in Rod and Cone Visual Cycles. Annu Rev Nutr, 32, 125-45.
42. Shen S-T, Yu JY-L (2002): Cloning and gene expression of a cDNA for the chicken follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-β-subunit. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 125, 375-386.
43. Singh R, Cheng K, Silversides F (2009): Production performance and egg quality of four strains of laying hens kept in conventional cages and floor pens. Poult Sci, 88, 256-264.
44. Sparks N (2006): The hen's egg–is its role in human nutrition changing? World Poultry Sci J, 62, 308-315.
45. Tabeekh MAA (2016): The effect of color light and stocking density on some enzymes and hormones of broilers and layers. Res Zool, 6, 21-28.
46. Tostivint H (2011): Evolution of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene family in relation to vertebrate tetraploidizations. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 170, 575-581.
47. Wang Y, Ding J, Yang H, et al (2015): The effect of new monochromatic light regimes on egg production and expression of the circadian gene BMAL1 in pigeons. Poult Sci, 94, 836-840.
48. Yang Y, Yu Y, Pan J, et al (2016): A new method to manipulate broiler chicken growth and metabolism: Response to mixed LED light system. Sci Rep, 6, 1-10.
49. Yuan J, Guo Y, Yang Y, et al (2007): Characterization of fatty acid digestion of Beijing fatty and arbor acres chickens. Asian-Austral J Anim Sci, 20, 1222-1228.