Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40665729›Full record

ArticleAnimal bioscience2026

Rhythmic light exposure during incubation enhances liver development and lipid accumulation in chicken embryos.

Xiuyu Xie, Fang Li, Jiayi Zhang, Dan Song, Yongshu Wu, Lu Liu, Yanjun Cui, Xiangchen Li, Panlin Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Animal bioscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xiuyu XieCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Fang LiCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Jiayi ZhangCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Dan SongCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Yongshu WuCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Lu LiuCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Yanjun CuiCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Xiangchen LiCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
Panlin WangCollege of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 32502970Scientific Research Foundation of Zhejiang A&F University 2022LFR059Zhejiang University Student Science and Technology Innovation Activity Plan 2024R412A021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveChicken embryos are typically incubated in complete darkness, overlooking the potential influence of rhythmic light exposure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-hour light/12-hour dark rhythmic light environment on liver development and lipid metabolism in chicken embryos, providing a foundation for regulating poultry physiology through light manipulation.

methodsFertile eggs were incubated under two lighting conditions: a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle (LD group) and constant darkness (DD group). Embryos or chicks were sampled at embryonic days 12 (E12), 14 (E14), 16 (E16), 18 (E18), 20 (E20), and day 1 post-hatch (D1). Body weight, liver weight, and residual yolk weight were recorded. Liver morphology and lipid accumulation were evaluated using H&E and Oil Red O staining. Hepatic levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acids, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were measured. Expression of lipid metabolism-related genes was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

resultsEmbryo weight, liver weight, liver index, and residual yolk weight did not differ significantly between groups. However, liver tissues in the LD group exhibited earlier maturation of liver plate structures and increased lipid droplet accumulation. TG concentration was significantly higher at E12 and D1, TC at E12 and E18, and ACC at E12, E16, and E18 in the LD group (p<0.05). Furthermore, lipid synthesis genes (ACC, FAS, SCD1, SREBP-1c, ELOVL6) were upregulated, while lipid degradation genes (CPT1, PPARα, MTTP) were downregulated at specific embryonic stages in the LD group (p<0.05).

conclusionRhythmic light exposure under a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle promoted liver development and lipid accumulation by modulating expression of lipid metabolism genes such as ACC, FAS, and CPT1. These findings highlight the potential of light rhythm as a strategy to optimize embryonic development and lipid metabolism in poultry.

Indexed as

ChickenCircadian RhythmLight EnvironmentLipid MetabolismLiver

Identifiers

PMID40665729
PMCPMC12754456

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.