Photoperiod as a neuroendocrine regulator: A review on pineal-melatonin signaling and physiological plasticity in poultry

Mar 18, 2026Poultry science

Day Length as a Hormone Controller: How Pineal Melatonin Signals Affect Body Changes in Poultry

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Abstract

Photoperiod influences neuroendocrine function in poultry through the pineal-melatonin axis.

The pineal gland converts light signals into melatonin secretion, regulating biological rhythms.
Melatonin is associated with the regulation of reproduction, growth, metabolism, immune function, and stress response.
Core clock genes and various hormonal axes interact with melatonin, linking environmental cues to physiological changes.
Photoperiod manipulation may enhance energy allocation and feed efficiency in poultry.
Melatonin's effects include potential roles in nutrigenomic regulation and epigenetic changes.
Controlled lighting can improve egg production, meat quality, and overall poultry welfare.

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Photoperiod, the cyclical exposure to light and darkness, is a master regulator of neuroendocrine function in poultry, primarily via the pineal-melatonin axis. The pineal gland translates photic cues into rhythmic melatonin secretion, which synchronizes circadian and seasonal biological processes, linking environmental signals to systemic homeostasis. This review systematically explores pineal-melatonin signaling network, highlighting its pivotal role in regulating reproduction, growth, metabolic homeostasis, immune competence, and stress resilience. Mechanistically, melatonin modulates core clock genes (BMAL1, PER, CRY), interacts with hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and adrenal axes, and activates antioxidant, metabolic and epigenetic pathways, thereby integrating environmental cues with physiological adaptation. Photoperiodic manipulation leverages this axis to enhance energy allocation, feed efficiency, and adaptability to environmental fluctuations. Recent advances reveal that melatonin-mediated effects extend to nutrigenomic regulation and epigenetic reprogramming, offering precision strategies for optimizing poultry productivity, welfare, and health. Moreover, controlled light regimes enhance melatonin-dependent benefits, including improved egg production, enhanced meat quality, and overall welfare promotion. By integrating molecular, cellular, and applied perspectives, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how the pineal-melatonin axis translates temporal environmental information into adaptive physiological outcomes, informing sustainable light management strategies in both commercial and experimental poultry systems.

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Photoperiod as a neuroendocrine regulator: A review on pineal-melatonin signaling and physiological plasticity in poultry

Abstract

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