Effects of 670-nm phototherapy on development.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to assess the survival and hatching success of chickens (Gallus gallus) exposed in ovo to far-red (670-nm) LED therapy.


BACKGROUND
Photobiomodulation by light in the red to near-infrared range (630-1000 nm) using low-energy lasers or light-emitting diode (LED) arrays has been shown to accelerate wound healing and improve recovery from ischemic injury. The mechanism of photobiomodulation at the cellular level has been ascribed to the activation of mitochondrial respiratory chain components resulting in initiation of a signaling cascade that promotes cellular proliferation and cytoprotecton.


METHODS
Fertile chicken eggs were treated once per day from embryonic days 0-20 with 670-nm LED light at a fluence of 4 J/cm2. In ovo survival and death were monitored by daily candling (after Day 4).


RESULTS
We observed a substantial decrease in overall and third-week mortality rates in the light-treated chickens. Overall, there was approximately a 41.5% decrease in mortality rate in the light-treated chickens (NL: 20%; L: 11.8%). During the third week of development, there was a 68.8% decrease in the mortality rate in light-treated chickens (NL: 20%; L: 6.25%). In addition, body weight, crown-rump length, and liver weight increased as a result of the 670-nm phototherapy. Light-treated chickens pipped (broke shell) earlier and had a shorter duration between pip and hatch.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that 670-nm phototherapy by itself does not adversely affect developing embryos and may improve the hatching survival rate.
Yeager
Ronnie L
RL
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. rlyeager@indiana.edu
Franzosa
Jill A
JA
Millsap
Deborah S
DS
Angell-Yeager
Jennifer L
JL
Heise
Stephen S
SS
Wakhungu
Phoebe
P
Lim
Jinhwan
J
Whelan
Harry T
HT
Eells
Janis T
JT
Henshel
Diane S
DS
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D008027:Light; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010789:Phototherapy