Abstract:

【Objective】 To study the effect of heat stress on oxidative injuries in swine testicular cells. 【Method】 Swine testicular cells were divided into 6 groups, 43℃ 1 h, 43℃ 2 h, 43℃ 1 h+37℃ 6 h, 43℃ 2 h+37℃ 6 h, negative and positive groups. Cellular and mitochondrial morphology were observed by using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to determine the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in testicular cells with ROS test Kit. 【Result】 After 1 h with 43℃ treatment, cells became circular and mitochondria showed partial or extensive denaturation, especially obvious in 43℃ 2 h and 43℃ 2 h+37℃ 6 h groups. There were no significant increase of ROS in testicular cells in 43℃ 1 h group (P＞0.05), but the level of ROS obviously increased in 43℃ 2 h group, compared to the former (P＜0.05), and the level of ROS in 43℃ 1 h and 43℃ 2 h groups also continued to increase after additional 6 h in 37℃, compared to negative group (P＜0.05). 【Conclusion】 Heat stress could result in the morphological changes of mitochondria of testicular cells and induce oxidative injuries, thus could affect the reproductive function of testis.

Key words: heat stress, testicular cells, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria