Frequent and mild scrotal heat stress impairs embryo development, implantation and offspring sex ratio in mice

Abstract

Research question

Frequent and mild scrotal heat stress (fmSHS) often occurs in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of fmSHS on natural fertility, the IVF–embryo transfer (IVF–ET) process and the offspring sex ratio.

Design

Male mice were randomly divided into four groups: no scrotal heat stress (SHS) (controls) and those subjected to SHS at 37°C, 39°C or 41°C for 30 min once a week for 5...