Green Light and Intermittent Lighting Modulate Testicular Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone without Central or Morphological Effects in Broiler Chickens
محورهای موضوعی :
M. Aykoç Göçer
1
,
S.G. Akın
2
,
E. Özel Armutoğlu
3
,
E. Koç Yıldırım
4
1 - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
2 - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
3 - Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Health and Technology University, Istanbul, Turkey
4 - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
کلید واژه: endocrinology, histology, hormones, lighting, physiology, reproduction,
چکیده مقاله :
Environmental factors, especially light duration and wavelength (colour), affect reproductive physiology in broilers. In birds, light is perceived especially by extraretinal photoreceptors in the brain, including the hy-pothalamus, which regulates reproductive function. Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), expressed in both the hypothalamus and gonads, suppresses gonadotropin release and modulates reproductive activity. Its expression is influenced by photoperiod and light colour. Rooster fertility is economically important, as one male can inseminate many females. This study investigated how green light and intermittent lighting affect GnIH levels and testicular development in prepubertal broiler males. 288 one-day-old male commer-cial broilers (Ross-308) were divided into four groups (n=12) and exposed to: Group I, 18 hours light - 6 hours dark (18L:6D) with white light; Group II, 18L:6D with green light; Group III, 17L:3D:1L:3D with white light; and Group IV, 17L:3D:1L:3D with green light. The study was conducted in four identical ex-perimental rooms, each consisting of six pens (replicates). Two male broilers were randomly selected from each pen. A total of 48 chickens, 2 males from each pen (replicate group), were randomly selected for analysis. After 42 days under standard conditions, GnIH levels were measured in the hypothalamus and testes via ELISA. Testicular development was assessed histologically by evaluating seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height. Results showed that intermittent lighting and green light significantly in-creased testicular GnIH levels but had no effect on hypothalamic GnIH. The most pronounced increase in testicular GnIH was observed in Group IV, which received both intermittent lighting and green light. No significant differences were observed in testicular morphology. These findings suggest that intermittent lighting and green light may selectively influence gonadal GnIH levels without affecting central GnIH or morphology, offering insight into how lighting strategies may be optimized in poultry production.
Environmental factors, especially light duration and wavelength (colour), affect reproductive physiology in broilers. In birds, light is perceived especially by extraretinal photoreceptors in the brain, including the hy-pothalamus, which regulates reproductive function. Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), expressed in both the hypothalamus and gonads, suppresses gonadotropin release and modulates reproductive activity. Its expression is influenced by photoperiod and light colour. Rooster fertility is economically important, as one male can inseminate many females. This study investigated how green light and intermittent lighting affect GnIH levels and testicular development in prepubertal broiler males. 288 one-day-old male commer-cial broilers (Ross-308) were divided into four groups (n=12) and exposed to: Group I, 18 hours light - 6 hours dark (18L:6D) with white light; Group II, 18L:6D with green light; Group III, 17L:3D:1L:3D with white light; and Group IV, 17L:3D:1L:3D with green light. The study was conducted in four identical ex-perimental rooms, each consisting of six pens (replicates). Two male broilers were randomly selected from each pen. A total of 48 chickens, 2 males from each pen (replicate group), were randomly selected for analysis. After 42 days under standard conditions, GnIH levels were measured in the hypothalamus and testes via ELISA. Testicular development was assessed histologically by evaluating seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height. Results showed that intermittent lighting and green light significantly in-creased testicular GnIH levels but had no effect on hypothalamic GnIH. The most pronounced increase in testicular GnIH was observed in Group IV, which received both intermittent lighting and green light. No significant differences were observed in testicular morphology. These findings suggest that intermittent lighting and green light may selectively influence gonadal GnIH levels without affecting central GnIH or morphology, offering insight into how lighting strategies may be optimized in poultry production.
Baxter M., Joseph N., Osborne V.R. and Bédécarrats G.Y. (2014). Red light is necessary to activate the reproductive axis in chickens independently of the retina of the eye. Poult. Sci. 93, 1289-1297.
Bédécarrats G.Y. (2015). Control of the reproductive axis: balanc-ing act between stimulatory and inhibitory input. Poult. Sci. 94, 810-815.
Bédécarrats G.Y., McFarlane H., Maddineni S.R. and Ramachandran R. (2009). Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone receptor signaling and its impact on reproduction in chickens. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 163, 7-11.
Bentley G.E., Ubuka T., McGuire N.L., Chowdhury V.S., Morita Y., Yano T., Hasunuma I., Binns M., Wingfield J.C. and Tsutsui K. (2008). Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and its receptor in the avian reproductive system. Gen. Comp. Endo-crinol. 156, 34-43.
Briere S., Brillard J.P., Panheleux M. and Froment P. (2011). Alimentation, fertilité et bien-être des oiseaux reproducteurs domestiques: des liens complexes. INRAE Prod. Anim. 24, 171-180.
Ciccone N.A., Dunn I.C., Boswell T., Tsutsui K., Ubuka T., Ukena K. and Sharp P.J. (2004). Gonadotrophin inhibitory hormone depresses gonadotrophin alpha and follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit expression in the pituitary of the domestic chicken. J. Neuroendocrinol. 16, 999-1006.
Dai T., Yang L., Wei S., Chu Y. and Dan X. (2024). The effect of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by acting through the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis axis in mice. Endocrine. 84, 745-756.
Dixit A.S., Byrsat S. and Kataki B. (2022). Hypothalamic expres-sion of GnRH-I and GnIH in the Eurasian tree sparrow over a single long day. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 21, 147-158.
Dixit A.S., Byrsat S. and Singh N.S. (2020). Circadian rhythm in photoperiodic expressions of GnRH-I and GnIH regulating seasonal reproduction in the Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B. 211, 111993-111998.
Dixit A.S., Singh N.S. and Byrsat S. (2017). Role of GnIH in photoperiodic regulation of seasonal reproduction in the Eura-sian tree sparrow. J. Exp. Biol. 220, 3742-3750.
European Union. (2007). Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Off. J. European Union 182, 19-28.
Geng A.L., Zhang Y., Zhang J., Wang H.H., Chu Q., Yan Z.X. and Liu H.G. (2022). Effects of light regime on circadian rhythmic behavior and reproductive parameters in native lay-ing hens. Poult. Sci. 101, 101808-101818.
Güleş Ö., Kum Ş., Yıldız M., Boyacıoğlu M., Ahmad E., Naseer Z. and Eren Ü. (2019). Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 against bisphenol-A-induced toxicity in the rat testes. Toxicol. Ind. Health. 35, 466-481.
Guo L., Zhu Q., Liu H., Zhao J., Lu W. and Wang J. (2022). Un-targeted LC‐MS‐based metabonomic analysis of the effect of photoperiod on the testes of broiler roosters. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 106, 1086-1096.
Hadinia S.H., Carneiro P.R.O., Fitzsimmons C.J., Bédécarrats G.Y. and Zuidhof M.J. (2020). Post-photostimulation energy intake accelerated pubertal development in broiler breeder pul-lets. Poult. Sci. 99, 2215-2229.
Hassan M.R., Sultana S., Choe H.S. and Ryu K.S. (2013). Effect of monochromatic and combined light colour on performance, blood parameters, ovarian morphology and reproductive hor-mones in laying hens. Italian J. Anim. Sci. 12, 56-69.
Jiang D.L., Pan J.Q., Li J.Q., Zhou X.L., Shen X., Xu D.N., Tian Y.B. and Huang Y.M. (2023). Effects of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone on testicular development and reproduc-tion-related gene expression in roosters. Anim. Biotechnol. 34, 1-11.
Kara H. and Tekiner D. (2024). Distributions and expressions of aquaporin‐5 and 7 in the testes of developing male chicks. Anat. Histol. Embryol. 53, 12978-12988.
Kriegsfeld L.J., Mei D.F., Bentley G.E., Ubuka T., Mason A.O., Inoue K., Ukena K., Tsutsui K. and Silver R. (2006). Identifi-cation and characterization of a gonadotropin-inhibitory sys-tem in the brains of mammals. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 103, 2410-2415.
Maddineni S., Ocón-Grove O.M., Krzysik‐Walker S.M., Hendricks G.L., Proudman J.A. and Ramachandran R. (2008). Gonadotrophin‐inhibitory hormone receptor expression in the chicken pituitary gland: Potential influence of sexual matu-ration and ovarian steroids. J. Neuroendocrinol. 20, 1078-1088.
Maeda K., Ohkura S., Uenoyama Y., Wakabayashi Y., Oka Y., Tsukamura H. and Okamura H. (2010). Neurobiological mechanisms underlying GnRH pulse generation by the hypo-thalamus. Brain Res. 1364, 103-115.
Manoochehri R., Jafarzadeh Shirazi M.R., Akhlaghi A., Tsutsui K., Namavar M.R., Zamiri M.J. and Rezazadeh F.M. (2021). Localization and expression of gonadotropin inhibitory hor-mone in the hypothalamus of turkey hens during prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal phases. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 74, 106486-106495.
McGuire N.L. and Bentley G.E. (2010). A functional neuropeptide system in vertebrate gonads: gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone and its receptor in testes of field-caught house sparrow (Passer domesticus). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 166, 565-572.
McGuire N.L., Kangas K. and Bentley G.E. (2011). Effects of melatonin on peripheral reproductive function: regulation of testicular GnIH and testosterone. Endocrinology. 152, 3461-3470.
Mobarkey N., Avital N., Heiblum R. and Rozenboim I. (2010). The role of retinal and extra-retinal photostimulation in repro-ductive activity in broiler breeder hens. Domest. Anim. Endo-crinol. 38, 235-243.
Mobarkey N., Avital N., Heiblum R. and Rozenboim I. (2013). The effect of parachlorophenylalanine and active immuniza-tion against vasoactive intestinal peptide on reproductive ac-tivities of broiler breeder hens photostimulated with green light. Biol. Reprod. 88, 4-11.
Mohammadi V., Sharifi S.D., Sharafi M. and Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A. (2021). Effects of dietary L-carnitine on puberty indices in the young breeder rooster. Heliyon. 7, e06753.
Oishi H., Klausen C., Bentley G.E., Osugi T., Tsutsui K., Gilks C.B., Yano T. and Leung P.C.K. (2012). The human gonad-otropin-inhibitory hormone ortholog RFamide-related peptide-3 suppresses gonadotropin-induced progesterone production in human granulosa cells. Endocrinology. 153, 3435-3445.
Ouyang H., Yang B., Lao Y., Tang J., Tian Y. and Huang Y. (2021). Photoperiod affects the laying performance of the mountain duck by regulating endocrine hormones and gene expression. Vet. Med. Sci. 7, 1899-1906.
Pandey U. (2019). Effect of lighting in broiler production. Acta Sci. Agric. 3, 114-116.
Rose E.M., Haakenson C.M. and Ball G.F. (2022). Sex differences in seasonal brain plasticity and the neuroendocrine regulation of vocal behavior in songbirds. Horm. Behav. 142, 105160-105169.
Rozenboim I., Bartman J., Avital Cohen N., Mobarkey N., Zaguri S., El Halawani M.E., Chaiseha Y. and Marco A. (2022). Tar-geted differential photostimulation alters reproductive activi-ties of domestic birds. Front. Physiol. 2, 1040015-1040023.
Sayin Y., Kaplan O., Karaduman E., Haqyar D.M. and Narinç D. (2022). The effect of monochromatic, combined, and mixed light-emitting diode light regimes on growth traits, fear re-sponses, and slaughter-carcass characteristics in broiler chick-ens. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 54, 277-288.
Siopes T.D. and Pyrzak R. (1990). Effect of intermittent lighting on the reproductive performance of first-year and recycled turkey hens. Poult. Sci. 69, 142-149.
Soni R., Haldar C. and Chaturvedi C.M. (2021). Retinal and extraretinal photoreceptor responses and reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) following ex-posure to different photoperiodic regime. Gen. Comp. Endo-crinol. 302, 113667-113676.
SPSS Inc. (2011). Statistical Package for Social Sciences Study. SPSS for Windows, Version 20. Chicago SPSS Inc., USA.
Tsutsui K. (2016). How to contribute to the progress of neuroen-docrinology: new insights from discovering novel neuropep-tides and neurosteroids regulating pituitary and brain func-tions. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 227, 3-15.
Tsutsui K., Saigoh E., Ukena K., Teranishi H., Fujisawa Y., Kiku-chi M., Ishii S. and Sharp P.J. (2000). A novel avian hypotha-lamic peptide inhibiting gonadotropin release. Biochem. Bio-phys. Res. Commun. 275, 661-667.
Tsutsui K. and Ubuka T. (2021). Gonadotropin-inhibitory hor-mone (GnIH): A new key neurohormone controlling reproduc-tive physiology and behavior. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 61, 100900-100910.
Ubuka T., Bentley G.E., Ukena K., Wingfield J.C. and Tsutsui K. (2005). Melatonin induces the expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the avian brain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 102, 3052-3057.
Ubuka T., Ukena K., Sharp P.J., Bentley G.E. and Tsutsui K. (2006). Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone inhibits gonadal de-velopment and maintenance by decreasing gonadotropin syn-thesis and release in male quail. Endocrinology. 147, 1187-1194.
Xin Q., Jiao H., Wang X., Zhao J., Liu M., Li H., Zhou Y. and Lin H. (2024). Effect of energy level of pullet diet and age on lay-ing performance and expression of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal related genes in laying hens. Poult. Sci. 103, 103873-103882.
Xu H., Pu J., Teng Y., Zhu Q., Guo L., Zhao J. and Wang J. (2023). Melatonin inhibits testosterone synthesis in rooster leydig cells by targeting CXCL14 through miR-7481-3p. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24, 16552-16561.
You Y., Huo K., He L., Wang T., Zhao L., Li R. and Luo J. (2025). GnIH secreted by green light exposure, regulates bone mass through the activation of Gpr147. Bone Res. 13, 13-21.
Zhang L., Chen F., Cao J., Dong Y., Wang Z., Hu M. and Chen Y. (2017). Green light inhibits GnRH-I expression by stimulating the melatonin‐GnIH pathway in the chick brain. J. Neuroen-docrinol. 29, 1-15.
Zhao R.X., Cai C.H., Wang P., Zheng L., Wang J.S., Li K.X., Liu W., Guo X.Y., Zhan X.A. and Wang K.Y. (2019). Effect of night light regimen on growth performance, antioxidant status and health of broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci. 32, 904-911.
Zheng L., Ma Y.E., Gu L.Y., Yuan D., Shi M.L., Guo X.Y. and Zhan X.A. (2013). Growth performance, antioxidant status, and nonspecific immunity in broilers under different lighting regimens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22, 798-807.
Zhou X., Jiang D., Zhang Z., Shen X., Pan J., Xu D., Tian Y. and Huang Y. (2024). Effect of active immunization with OPN5 on follicular development and egg production in quail under different photoperiods. Theriogenology. 228, 81-92.
Zhou X., Jiang D., Zhang Z., Shen X., Pan J., Xu D., Tian Y. and Huang Y. (2022). Expression of GnIH and its effects on follicle development and steroidogenesis in quail ovaries under different photoperiods. Poult. Sci. 101, 102227-102235.
Zubair H., Saqib M., Khan M.N., Shamas S., Irfan S. and Shahab M. (2022). Variation in hypothalamic GnIH expression and its association with GnRH and Kiss1 during pubertal progression in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Animals. 12, 3533-3542.
