Objective To investigate the effects of plateau environment exposure on the reproductive system of male rats,so as to provide the reference for mechanisms of reproductive damage in plateau environment.Methods Sixty SPF-grade 12-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the plain-exposed group,the 1 day-,3 day-,7 day-,14 day-and 28 day-plateau-exposed groups.The rats in the plain-exposed group were raised under normal con-ditions for 28 days,while the rats in the plateau-exposed groups were raised in a simulated high-altitude plateau cham-ber.After the completion of the designated feeding periods,the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia,and testicular tis-sue and abdominal aortic blood were collected to detect the testicular index and evaluate sperm quality.Histological and cellular morphologies of the testicular tissue were analyzed.Additionally,the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),su-peroxide dismutase(SOD)and reactive oxygen(ROS)in the testicular tissue were determined,along with serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH)and testosterone(T).Results Compared with the plain-exposed group,the rats in the 14 day-plateau-exposed group showed a decrease in the testicular index,relative sperm count,sperm viability and forward motility rate;more abnormalities in testicular tissue morphology,resulting in lower Johnson score;ruptures in mitochondria,significantly paler matrix,and more fragmented and missing cristae;increased MDA and ROS levels;decreased FSH and LH levels and an increased T level(all P<0.05).Compared with the 14 day-plateau-exposed group,the rats in the 28 day-plateau-exposed group showed an increase in relative sperm count,sperm viability and forward motility rate;swollen mitochondria but no ruptures;decreased MDA and ROS levels,in-creased SOD levels;increased FSH and LH levels,and a decreased T level(all P<0.05).Conclusions Plateau environ-ment may cause a decrease in testicular index and sperm quality,impair mitochondrial function,induce oxidative stress,and thus affect reproductive system of male rats.However,there are signs of self-repair in the reproductive system with the increase of exposure duration.
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