The effects of light colour on female rabbit reproductive performance and the expression of key genes in follicular development

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of light colour on rabbit reproductive performance and the expression of key follicular development genes. Rabbits (n = 1068, 5 months old, 3.6-4.4 kg live body weight) were divided randomly into four groups, housed individually in wire mesh cages and exposed to red, green, blue, and white LED light (control). The lighting schedule was 16 L:8 D-15 d/150 lux/6:00 am-22:00 pm (3d pre-artificial insemination to 12d post-artificial insemination).Red light and white light affected the conception rate and kindling rate and significantly increased the number of total litter size at birth (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). The effects of red light on litter size at weaning,litter weight at weaning, individual weight at weaning ignificantly increased than green and blue groups. The effects of red light on Live litter size at birth ignificantly increased than blue group (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). Compared to white light,green and blue light reduced significantly the number of secondary follicles (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). Compared to red light,green and blue light reduced significantly the number of tertiary follicles (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). Compared with white light,red LED light resulted in significantly greater ovarian FSHR and LHR mRNA expres-sion.(<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). Compared with green and blue LED light, red LED light resulted in significantly greater BCL-2 mRNA expression (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05). Compared with green LED light, red LED light significantly inhibited FOXO1 mRNA expression in rabbit ovaries (<italic>P&lt;</italic>0.05).Red light can affect the reproductive performance of female rabbits and the expression of key genes for follicular development.