Photoacceleration of Embryonic Development in Depigmented Japanese Quail Eggs

Abstract

Pigmented and depigmented Japanese quail eggs were incubated either in the presence of a light source for one week or in the dark. Acceleration of embryonic development was apparent by the first day of incubation in the depigmented eggs exposed to light. Embryonic weights of eggs exposed to light were significantly (P less than .05) greater than eggs incubated in the dark by the fourth day of incubation. Air cell temperatures of depigmented eggs were significantly (P less than .05) lower than pigmented eggs by the fourth day of incubation when both groups of eggs were exposed to a light source. Thus photoacceleration appeared to be a real effect, and great enough to overcome the lower egg temperature at which these embryos developed. Embryos developing in lighted depigmented eggs can decrease the hatching time of other groups incubated with them.

Effect of repetitive acute cold exposures during the last phase of broiler embryogenesis on cold resistance through the life span

“…It can be further explained by the reduction in water loss from the egg or embryo (Deeming, 2005) during the cold exposure. A similar increase in BW was found after continuous photostimulation during incubation, which enhanced embryonic development and accelerated hatching in birds (Coleman and McNabb, 1975;Shafey and Al-Mohsen, 2002;Rozenboim et al, 2004). The increase in the T b of chicks on hatch could be related to changes in the metabolic rate.…”

Review: an embryo's eye view of avian eggshell pigmentation

“…Eggshell pigmentation is likely to influence this photo‐acceleration by moderating both the intensity and the wavelength of the light reaching the embryo (Shafey et al 2004). However, little research has addressed light intensity (Ghatpande et al 1995, Shafey et al 2005) or wavelength specifically (Shutze et al 1962, Lauber 1975, Shafey and Al‐Mohsen 2002, Rozenboim et al 2003, 2004) and only two studies assessed the effect of pigmentation on photo‐acceleration of embryonic development directly (Coleman and Mcnab 1975, Shafey et al 2005).…”

“…Two studies assessed the effect of shell pigmentation on embryonic growth directly using Japanese quail and domestic fowl eggs with different intensities of brown pigmentation (Coleman and Mcnab 1975, Shafey et al 2005). Due to their variation of shell appearance in pigment intensity, but not spectral composition of the reflected light, the conclusions from these studies are restricted to the role of pigmentation in moderating the intensity rather than the wavelength of the light reaching the embryo.…”

“…Generally lighter pigmentation seemed to facilitate photo‐acceleration of embryonic development. Depigmented Japanese quail eggs, for instance, developed faster than pigmented eggs, when exposed to light and this effect was apparent from the first day of incubation (Coleman and Mcnab 1975). In chicken eggs of three different intensities in brown pigment, only the lightest‐coloured eggs showed increased hatchability after exposure to green light for eggs laid by young chickens, while other growth and development parameters remained unaffected (Shafey et al 2005).…”

Physical Comparisons of Lighted Incubation in Avian Eggs

“…Many authors have studied the effects of light on the developing embryos with varying results (Romanoff, 1943;Shutze et al, 1962;Lauber and Shutze, 1964;Tamimie, 1967;Tamimie and Fox, 1967;Siegel et al, 1969;Isakson et al, 1970;Coleman et al, 1971;Voitle, 1972, 1973;Cooper, 1972;Garwood et al, 1973;Coleman and McNabb, 1975;Coleman and McDaniel, 1975a, b;and Lauber 1975). Shutze et al (1962) and Lauber (1975) reported that selected wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum did not accelerate development as much as white light.…”