{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,8]],"date-time":"2026-02-08T08:18:13Z","timestamp":1770538693385,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770163200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012166","name":"National Key R&D Program of China","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["2023YFD1302004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023YFD1302004"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012166","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012166","name":"National Key R&D Program of China","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["2022YFD1600103"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022YFD1600103"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012166","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Liaocheng Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology","award":["GDWZ202401"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GDWZ202401"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100007129","name":"Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["ZR2023QC048"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZR2023QC048"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100007129","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Shandong Provincial Key R&D Program","award":["2025LZGC033"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2025LZGC033"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Red light suppresses melatonin and helps in improving reproductive efficiency in donkeys during the non-breeding season (November\u2013February). In this study, the effects of red, blue, and white LED light were assessed. For this purpose, 40 adult Dezhou donkeys were divided into 4 groups, each receiving equal treatment for 40 days. All groups received 8 h of natural light. Additionally, the red group received 6 h of 50 lux of red LED light (468 nm) directed at a single eye. The blue group received 6 h of 50 lux of blue LED light (468 nm). The white group received 6 h of 50 lux of white LED light (468 nm), and the control group received only 8 h of natural sunlight. Blood samples were collected on the 21st, 28th, 34th, and 40th day of the experiment to analyze plasma hormone concentrations of progesterone (P4), Inhibin B (INH-B), Testosterone (T), Activin-A, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Antimullerian Hormone (AMH), and Melatonin. In conclusion, red LED light directed at one eye showed the most promising results, elevating plasma hormone concentrations of testosterone (T), Activin A, LH, FSH, AMH, and melatonin.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16030490","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T14:55:11Z","timestamp":1770216911000},"page":"490","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effect of Monochromatic Red, Blue, and White Light on Reproductive Hormones of Male Donkeys During the Non-Breeding Season"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Muhammad Faheem","family":"Akhtar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3247-5898","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ayman Abdel-Aziz","family":"Swelum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia"},{"name":"Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Changfa","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shinomiya, A., Shimmura, T., Nishiwaki-Ohkawa, T., and Yoshimura, T. (2014). Regulation of seasonal reproduction by hypothalamic activation of thyroid hormone. Front. Endocrinol., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2014.00012"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thimonier, J., and Ortavant, R. (1985). Light control of reproduction in the ewe. Endocrine Causes of Seasonal and Lactational Anestrus in Farm Animals, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-009-5026-9_6"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2018.09.036","article-title":"Inhibin-A and Inhibin-B in stallions: Seasonal changes and changes after down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis","volume":"123","author":"Ball","year":"2019","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Akhtar, M.F., Umar, M., Chai, W., Li, L., Ahmad, E., and Wang, C. (2025). Effect of Inhibin Immunization on Reproductive Hormones and Testicular Morphology of Dezhou Donkeys During the Non-Breeding Season. Animals, 15.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202501.2366.v1"},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Akhtar, M.F., Ahmad, E., Swelum, A.A., and Qingshan, M. (2026). Disruption of testicular histoarchitecture and plasma hormone concentrations due to heat stress in donkeys. Front. Vet. Sci., 13."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2012.11.005","article-title":"Influence of season on testicular morphometry and semen characteristics in Martina Franca jackasses","volume":"79","author":"Carluccio","year":"2013","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, Z., Zhang, K., Zhou, Y., Zhao, J., Wang, J., and Lu, W. (2023). Role of melatonin in bovine reproductive biotechnology. Molecules, 28.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28134940"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, H., Li, K., Zhang, K., Li, Y., Gu, H., Liu, H., Yang, Z., and Cai, D. (2021). The circadian physiology: Implications in livestock health. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22042111"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"CD001520","article-title":"Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag","volume":"2010","author":"Herxheimer","year":"1996","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12748","DOI":"10.1111\/jpi.12748","article-title":"Impact of endogenous melatonin on rhythmic behaviors, reproduction, and survival revealed in melatonin-proficient C57BL\/6J congenic mice","volume":"71","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Pineal Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2016.04.045","article-title":"Seasonal breeding in mammals: From basic science to applications and back","volume":"86","author":"Dardente","year":"2016","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"406","article-title":"A method of monitoring and locating eggs laid by breeding geese based on photoelectric sensing technology","volume":"9","author":"Xu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Inf. Process. Agric."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107286","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2024.107286","article-title":"Advances in photoperiodic and bio-stimulations of seasonal reproduction in small ruminants","volume":"235","author":"Abecia","year":"2024","journal-title":"Small Rumin. Res."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2023001","DOI":"10.31893\/multirev.2023001","article-title":"Estrous synchronization in cattle, sheep and goat","volume":"6","author":"Arya","year":"2023","journal-title":"Multidiscip. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cveq.2006.07.002","article-title":"Advanced methods for handling and preparation of stallion semen","volume":"22","author":"Loomis","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. Equine Pract."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2020.03.024","article-title":"Effects of red-light irradiation on the function and survival of fresh and liquid-stored donkey semen","volume":"149","author":"Papas","year":"2020","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Catal\u00e1n, J., Papas, M., Trujillo-Rojas, L., Blanco-Prieto, O., Bonilla-Correal, S., Rodr\u00edguez-Gil, J.E., Mir\u00f3, J., and Yeste, M. (2020). Red LED light acts on the mitochondrial electron chain of donkey sperm and its effects depend on the time of exposure to light. Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fcell.2020.588621"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106675","DOI":"10.1016\/j.domaniend.2021.106675","article-title":"Effects of blue monochromatic light directed at one eye of pregnant horse mares on gestation, parturition and foal maturity","volume":"78","author":"Lutzer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Domest. Anim. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022029917000723","article-title":"Effects of management practices on the welfare of dairy donkeys and risk factors associated with signs of hoof neglect","volume":"85","author":"Dai","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dairy Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2017.06.012","article-title":"Artificially extended photoperiod administered to pre-partum mares via blue light to a single eye: Observations on gestation length, foal birth weight and foal hair coat at birth","volume":"100","author":"Nolan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2012.09.003","article-title":"Blue light from light-emitting diodes directed at a single eye elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in horses","volume":"196","author":"Walsh","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"601","DOI":"10.1111\/evj.12153","article-title":"Blue light from individual light masks directed at a single eye advances the breeding season in mares","volume":"46","author":"Murphy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Daels, P.F. (2006, January 19\u201321). Management of spring transition. Proceedings of the 8th AAEP Annual Resort Symposium, Rome, Italy."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5187\/jast.2021.e123","article-title":"Efficiency of Equilume light mask on the resumption of early estrous cyclicity and ovulation in Thoroughbred mares","volume":"64","author":"Kim","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20151745","DOI":"10.1098\/rspb.2015.1745","article-title":"Artificial light at night desynchronizes strictly seasonal reproduction in a wild mammal","volume":"282","author":"Robert","year":"2015","journal-title":"Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abecia, J.A., Chemineau, P., G\u00f3mez, A., Palacios, C., Keller, M., and Delgadillo, J.A. (2017). Exposure to photoperiod-melatonin-induced, sexually-activated rams after weaning advances the resumption of sexual activity in post-partum Mediterranean ewes lambing in January. Vet. Sci., 4.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci4010004"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9711","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-66594-6","article-title":"Exogenous melatonin advances the ram breeding season and increases testicular function","volume":"10","author":"Pool","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1989.673763x","article-title":"Influences of Season and Artificial Photoperiod on Stallions","volume":"67","author":"Clay","year":"1989","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22569","DOI":"10.1038\/srep22569","article-title":"Specific LED-based red light photo-stimulation procedures improve overall sperm function and reproductive performance of boar ejaculates","volume":"6","author":"Yeste","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lucignani, G., Jannello, L.M.I., Fulgheri, I., Silvani, C., Turetti, M., Gadda, F., Vigan\u00f2, P., Somigliana, E., Montanari, E., and Boeri, L. (2022). Coenzyme Q10 and melatonin for the treatment of male infertility: A narrative review. Nutrients, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14214585"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cophys.2018.04.006","article-title":"Seasonal physiology: Making the future a thing of the past","volume":"5","author":"West","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113620","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ygcen.2020.113620","article-title":"Central and peripheral actions of melatonin on reproduction in seasonal and continuous breeding mammals","volume":"300","author":"Reiter","year":"2021","journal-title":"Gen. Comp. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19291","DOI":"10.1038\/srep19291","article-title":"The relationship of spectral sensitivity with growth and reproductive response in avian breeders (Gallus gallus)","volume":"6","author":"Yang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.18006\/2022.10(3).619.627","article-title":"Effect of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol and cortisol on the quality of fresh and cryopreserved stallion sperm","volume":"10","author":"Shitikova","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Exp. Biol. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e43","DOI":"10.34172\/jlms.2024.43","article-title":"The impact of photobiomodulation therapy on enhancing spermatogenesis and blood-testis barrier integrity in adult male mice subjected to scrotal hyperthermia","volume":"15","author":"Soltani","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Lasers Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1095\/biolreprod.108.075655","article-title":"Melatonin and reproduction revisited","volume":"81","author":"Reiter","year":"2009","journal-title":"Biol. Reprod."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/3\/490\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T05:13:09Z","timestamp":1770354789000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/3\/490"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16030490"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16030490","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]]}}}