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Heat exposure modulates redox balance and gonadal-related hormones in Wistar rats
Damilare Emmanuel Rotimi1, Akinbowale Ewaoluwa Shalom1, Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi2
1Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran 251101, Nigeria.
Objective:
This study assessed the effect of heat exposure on gonadal-related hormones in male and female Wistar rats.
Methods:
Twenty rats (140 - 160) were divided into 2 groups (male and female rats) and further sub-grouped into control and heat-exposed rats. Rats were exposed to heat for 4 hours daily for 21 days after which the rats were necropsied, and blood collected from the jugular veins.
Results:
Heat exposure caused appreciable decreases in the levels of luteinizing hormones and follicle-stimulating hormones in both the male and female rats., Also, heat exposure caused a decline in the level of testosterone in male rats and decreased progesterone and oestrogen in their female counterparts. Furthermore, heat exposure caused oxidative stress by elevating the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, but lowering the antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and thiols in rats.
Conclusions:
This study thus showed that heat exposure significantly disrupts hormonal balance and induces oxidative stress in both male and female Wistar rats. Findings have implications for climate change impact on health.
