Effects of heat stress and long photoperiod on the prostate of rats

Abstract

Objective: To examine light and heat effects on the morphological, histological, and micrometric structure of the prostate of rats. Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into three groups. The control group was kept under 20 °C-22 °C and an artificial 12 h/12 h day/night cycle; the temperature group was under normal light and at (42±1) °C heat for 4 to 5 h daily, and the light group was exposed to 8 h/16 h day/night cycle with 20 °C-22 °C. Rats were weighed five times (at the beginning of the study and every seven days). Five milliliters (mL) of their peripheral blood were taken. The tissue staining was performed using the hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) stain and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). In the following, tissue and cellular reactions to the PAS were examined. Results: Folds were located entirely on the surface of the anterior lobe and periphery of the other lobes. The secretory units in the anterior lobe were more than the lateral lobe. A strong reaction of the secretory cells to the PAS was observed. Testosterone serum levels of the light group also significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05). The most histometric changes of the lobes were established in the lateral lobes. Heat stress resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone levels and transformed prostate tissue. The epithelium and parenchyma to scaffold ratio in the temperature group decreased. Conclusions: Maximum and minimum changes in the ventral lobe happened under the ascent of temperature and light, respectively. The ventral lobe in the study of prostatic hyperplasia should be more considered.