1College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
2Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
*Corresponding author's e-mail: glwang@njau.edu.cn
Online published on 19 August, 2017.
Behavioral, hormonal and histological changes caused by heat stress at 30 and 40°C were studied in mice model. As a result, obnoxious activities like restlessness and hyperactivity were observed. Rectal temperature was significantly increased at 40°C as well as the increase in water intake, whereas, the feed intake remained consistent. Body weight significantly decreased at 40°C. Serum testosterone has shown a decrease in both groups. At day 7 of the treatment, low levels of growth hormone were recorded whereas no significant difference was recorded at day 15. Adrenocorticotropic hormone level was significantly decreased in both groups at day 7. Shrinking of the seminiferous tubules with irregular appearance containing less spermatozoa was also observed at 40°C. Testicular degeneration and atrophy of leydig cells were also observed. Finally, we concluded that heat stress adversely affects the male reproductive functions along with hormonal imbalances and decline in the spermatogenesis.
ACTH, Behavior, Endocrine, Hormone, Heat stress, Mouse, Testicular histology
