摘要
This study was carried out to determine if exposure to hot environmental temperatures had a direct, detrimental effect on sperm quality. For this the effect of whole-body heat exposure on epididymal spermatozoa of laboratory mice was investigated. C57BL/6 mice （n = 7） were housed in a microclimate chamber at 37℃-38℃ for 8 h per day for three consecutive days, while control mice （n = 7） were kept at 23℃-24℃. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were obtained 16 h after the last heat treatment. The results showed that sperm numbers were similar in the two groups （P = 0.23）, but after heat treatment, a significant reduction in the percentage of motile sperm was present （P 〈 0.0001）. Membrane changes of the spermatozoa were investigated by staining with phycoerythrin （PE）- conjugated Annexin V, which detects exteriorization of phosphotidylserine from the inner to the outer leaflet of the sperm plasma membrane, and 7-aminoactinomycin D （7-AAD）, which binds to the sperm nucleus when the plasma membrane is damaged. The percentage of spermatozoa showing positive staining with Annexin V-PE or 7-AAD or both, was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） in heat-exposed mice compared with controls. These results show that whole-body heat exposure to 37℃-38℃ induces membrane changes in the epididymal spermatozoa of mice, which may lead to apoptosis.
This study was carried out to determine if exposure to hot environmental temperatures had a direct, detrimental effect on sperm quality. For this the effect of whole-body heat exposure on epididymal spermatozoa of laboratory mice was investigated. C57BL/6 mice （n = 7） were housed in a microclimate chamber at 37℃-38℃ for 8 h per day for three consecutive days, while control mice （n = 7） were kept at 23℃-24℃. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were obtained 16 h after the last heat treatment. The results showed that sperm numbers were similar in the two groups （P = 0.23）, but after heat treatment, a significant reduction in the percentage of motile sperm was present （P 〈 0.0001）. Membrane changes of the spermatozoa were investigated by staining with phycoerythrin （PE）- conjugated Annexin V, which detects exteriorization of phosphotidylserine from the inner to the outer leaflet of the sperm plasma membrane, and 7-aminoactinomycin D （7-AAD）, which binds to the sperm nucleus when the plasma membrane is damaged. The percentage of spermatozoa showing positive staining with Annexin V-PE or 7-AAD or both, was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） in heat-exposed mice compared with controls. These results show that whole-body heat exposure to 37℃-38℃ induces membrane changes in the epididymal spermatozoa of mice, which may lead to apoptosis.
