Heat stress response of somatic cells in the testis

Rashid A Aldahhan; Peter G Stanton

doi:10.1016/j.mce.2021.111216

Heat stress response of somatic cells in the testis

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2021 May 1:527:111216. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111216. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Authors

Rashid A Aldahhan¹, Peter G Stanton²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2114, Dammam, 31541, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: raaldahhan@iau.edu.sa.
² Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 33639219
DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111216

Abstract

The testis is a temperature-sensitive organ that needs to be maintained 2-7 °C below core body temperature to ensure the production of normal sperm. Failure to maintain testicular temperature in mammals impairs spermatogenesis and leads to low sperm counts, poor sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology in the ejaculate. This review discusses the recent knowledge on the response of testicular somatic cells to heat stress and, specifically, regarding the relevant contributions of heat, germ cell depletion and inflammatory reactions on the functions of Sertoli and Leydig cells. It also outlines mechanisms of testicular thermoregulation, as well as the thermogenic factors that impact testicular function.

Keywords: Cryptorchidism; Heat stress; Leydig cell; Sertoli cell; Spermatogenesis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Heat-Shock Response
Humans
Leydig Cells / metabolism*
Male
Sertoli Cells / metabolism*
Sperm Motility*
Spermatogenesis*
Spermatozoa / metabolism*