Expression patterns of melatonin receptors in chicken ovarian follicles affected by monochromatic light

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Artificial illumination is an important exogenous factor in the control of many physiological and behavioral processes as well as an important environmental factor in the management of laying hens. Melatonin receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. The hormone melatonin is secreted primarily by the pineal gland, with highest levels occurring during the dark period of a circadian cycle. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of monochromatic light on chicken egg reproduction and expression of melatonin receptors in chicken ovarian follicles. A total of 552 19-week-old hens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 138 birds in each group. Each group was randomly divided into 3 replicates with 46 birds in each replicate. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum. Light treatments were: control cool white (400-760 nm), blue (480 nm), green (560 nm), and red (660 nm). The short wavelength (blue light) group produced a greater total number of eggs at 300 days of age than did the long wavelength (red light) group, and the red light group showed higher melatonin receptor type 1A and melatonin receptor 10073 Expression patterns of melatonin receptors in chicken ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (3): 10072-10080 (2015) type 1C mRNA and protein expression. These results suggest that the wavelength of light is closely related to chicken egg number at 300 days of age; there is no effect of monochromatic light on melatonin receptor type 1B.

Melatonin implantation improved the egg-laying rate and quality in hens past their peak egg-laying age

“…MT1 and MT2 were expressed in both the thecal and granulosa layers30. It was reported that MT1 and MT3 were negatively correlated with the total number of eggs yielded in hens 300 days of age that were exposed to different monochromatic light31. We observed that melatonin implantation did not influence the expression of ovarian MT1 but up-regulated the expression of MT2 .…”

Seasonal Reproduction in Vertebrates: Melatonin Synthesis, Binding, and Functionality Using Tinbergen’s Four Questions

“…There is also differential photoperiodic regulation of melatonin subtype receptor expression in tropical bird testes ( Perdicula asiatica , see [ 134 ]). The effects of monochromatic light on ovarian melatonin subtype receptor expression were studied in chickens [ 135 ]. Hens that were housed in red (660 nm) light expressed Mel1a and Mel1c at significantly higher levels than all other groups [ 135 ].…”

“…The effects of monochromatic light on ovarian melatonin subtype receptor expression were studied in chickens [ 135 ]. Hens that were housed in red (660 nm) light expressed Mel1a and Mel1c at significantly higher levels than all other groups [ 135 ]. Furthermore, hens housed in blue (480 nm) light laid significantly more eggs than all other groups [ 135 ].…”

“…Hens that were housed in red (660 nm) light expressed Mel1a and Mel1c at significantly higher levels than all other groups [ 135 ]. Furthermore, hens housed in blue (480 nm) light laid significantly more eggs than all other groups [ 135 ]. Blue light suppressed pineal melatonin synthesis in chickens [ 136 , 137 ].…”

Transcriptome survey of phototransduction and clock genes in marine bivalves

“…However, the molecular understanding of circadian rhythms is almost exclusively related to terrestrial species. A number of studies have revealed that the expression of some clock genes, such as per, cry, and melatonin, is affected by both daylight and moonlight, suggesting interconnections between solar and lunar rhythms in animals (Levy et al, 2007;Sugama et al, 2008;Li et al, 2015a). For marine species, molecular components of "marine rhythms" are essential to understand how marine species detect solar and lunar cycles and translate this into the sequence of physiological processes that result in the maturation of gametes and determine the timing of spawning.…”