Influence of different types of lamps on the reproductive development of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Reproductive tract development during puberty is critical to reproductive performance, and the light is crucial in this process in birds. However, in male quail, there is little information on the effects of types of lamps, more specifically the wavelength emitted. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effects of types of lamps on the reproductive performance of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Two hundred and forty male quail were exposed to six different types of lamp (incandescent, white fluorescent, or blue, white, red or green LED). The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and five replicates of one quail. Quail were slaughtered on days 35, 47, 57, 71 and 123 to evaluate the development of testes. On day 117, semen samples were analyzed and fertilized eggs were incubated. Body weight of the quails was influenced (P < 0.01) by lamps only until the 47 days of age. Higher body weight until this age were observed with incandescent, blue and green LED bulbs. Fluorescent and red LED bulbs propitiated (P < 0.05) early testicular development of quails but, at 57 days of age, higher testicular development was obtained (P < 0.01) whit white LED bulbs. Lower testicular development was observed (P < 0.01) at 123 days of age with the red LED. No influence of different types of lamps was observed (P > 0.05) on the quality of semen nor on the fertility rates of quail. It is concluded that lamps can influence the histological reproductive characteristics of male quails, but without influencing the semen quality. Fluorescent bulbs and red LED seem to anticipate the sexual maturity, but the white LED results in higher testicular development at 57 days of age.

Effect of different light sources on reproductive anatomy and physiology of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Artificial lights are essential for controlling the reproductive tract development of birds during puberty and therefore influence reproductive quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different light sources on reproductive anatomic and physiological characteristics of female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 270 birds from one day of age were housed in a masonry shed divided into six rooms with light isolation. Each room was equipped with a different type of light bulb and contained seven cages with five birds in each. The light bulbs tested were: incandescent; compact fluorescent; and light-emitting diode (LED) in the colors white, blue, red and green. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and seven replications of individual birds each. The anatomic and physiological condition of the birds was evaluated at four, eight and 12 weeks of age. The white LED bulb advanced (P<0.05) the sexual maturity by one week, resulted (P<0.05) in higher live weights and greater weight and relative percentage of ovarian stroma, oviduct and ovarian tissue at eight weeks of age. Higher plasma concentrations of estradiol and lipids were also observed (P<0.05) at eight weeks under the white LED bulb. At 12 weeks of age, the magnum and isthmus folding characteristics were better (P<0.05) with the red LED bulb. In conclusion, the photostimulation with the white LED bulb was more efficient at activating the reproductive cycle, hastening the onset of sexual maturity and increasing the development of reproductive organs after puberty.