Effect of Photoperiod on the Egg Production, Plasma Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Gonadal Hormones, and Mrna Levels of Lh and Fsh in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis of Pigeons

ABSTRACT We investigated the egg production, changes in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadal hormones, and their mRNA levels in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of White King pigeons submitted to different photoperiods. The treatments consisted of three photoperiods (8 h light (L):16 h dark (D), 12L:12D, and 16L:8D), with three replicates of twelve pairs of adult pigeons. The birds were exposed the photoperiods for 45 days. Egg production performance was recorded daily. Six pigeon pairs per replicate were selected for plasma collection, and six pigeon pa...