Investigation of Thermotolerance in Mouse Testis

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Abstract
The effect of a two-fraction heat treatment on mouse testis has been assessed by measuring testis weight loss at 1 week after treatment. The rate of repair of sublethal heat damage following the first treatment was dependent on the severity of the treatment. Using a primary treatment of 41.5.degree. C for 30 min, the weight loss following a test treatment of 41.5.degree. C for 30 min returned to that of the test treatment alone within an interval of 16-24 h. Using a milder primary treatment of 40.0.degree. C for 30 min, repair of sublethal heat damage appeared to be complete by 1-2 h. When a single test treatment was used, there was no evidence of heat-induced thermal resistance (thermotolerance) following primary treatments of 40.0 or 41.5.degree. C for 30 min, for periods up to 24 h between treatments. A small degree of thermotolerance could, however, be demonstrated following the most severe primary treatment used if full dose: effect curves were obtained. Thermotolerance, manifest as a decrease in slope, was maximal at approximately 4 h after the primary treatment. The results are discussed with reference to other normal tissue data.