Heat Stress and Its Impact on Corpus Luteum (CL) Function and Reproductive Efficiency in Mammals: A Critical Review

Heat stress is considered as one of the most crucial environmental stressors affecting reproductive efficiency in mammals through modulation of the function of Corpus Luteum (CL) that plays a vital role in progesterone production and pregnancy maintenance. Therefore, this detailed systematic review seeks to bring forward the interdisciplinary perspectives on the impact of heat stress exposure on CL function regarding hormonal shift, luteal phase distortion and fertility receptivity. High temperatures are shown to impose oxidative stress, change blood perfusion within the CL, signal transduction which converts the signal from the signaling molecule into an intracellular reaction and impaired luteal activity. This review incorporates various scientific studies on these effects to different mammalian species concerning the associated physiological mechanisms. Besides this, it also considers the overall impact in warm stressed population in livestock breeding in the agricultural system as well as their conservation from a general perspective. Some of the prevention and control measures for heat related reproductive problems are also covered here, addressing the importance of finding the impact on the CL in order to put in place these interventions. This review may be used to inform future developments that may improve the CL function with regards to heat stress and possible solutions to help mammals reproduced under climate change tender environment and even rising temperatures globally.