Heat Stress and light stress impair the Hematological and antioxidant status in Rats

Background: Climate change is a prominent global environmental issue driven primarily by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, leading to long-term alterations in atmospheric composition, temperature dynamics, and hydrological cycles. Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of climate change, most notably rising temperatures and changing lighting, and their combined effect on the physiology of rats by measuring blood parameters, including white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and biochemical indicators (MDA, CAT, and SOD). Methodology: The study involved 42 rats from the University of Kufa's College of Science, divided into six groups. Each group was exposed to heat stress, light, darkness, heat stress and light stress, heat stress and darkness, and a control group, with exposure lasting 4 weeks. Results: The study found significant increases in white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels under various stress conditions, with the heat stress group having the highest platelet count. Oxidative stress tests showed an increase in MDA, SOD, and CAT levels, with the combined heat and light stress group having the highest values. Conclusion: It can be concluded that climate changes, such as temperature and light, negatively impact public health by affecting vital systems, particularly the immune and circulatory systems, and increasing oxidative stress. The combination of high temperature and continuous lighting was the most harmful to rats, indicating that multiple sources of environmental stress exacerbate the negative effects on living organisms.