Influence of heat stress on the proliferation of bovine adipose-derived stromal cells

Heat stress is a critical environmental factor influencing cellular physiology and has implications for livestock cell biology and regenerative research. This study evaluated the effects of acute (2 h) and chronic (24 h) heat exposure on proliferation and morphology of bovine adipose-derived stromalstem cells (bADSCs). Bovine ADSCs were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue (5 g) by collagenase digestion and in vitro cultured in DMEM supplemented with 15 per cent FBS and one per cent antibioticantimycotic. Cells attached within 2448 h, adopted a spindle-shaped fibroblastic morphology by days 35, and reached 8090 per cent confluence by 1314 days; morphology and growth remained stable through passages 68. For heat stress experiments, third-passage cells were seeded (5 104 cells well) and exposed to 39C or 41C (controls at 37C). Proliferation was assessed by Trypan Blue dye exclusion and expressed as 103 cellsmL. Under acute exposure, proliferation at 39C (68.0 3.60) exceeded that at 37C (55.0 1.00) and 41C (54.0 6.92), but differences were not statistically significant (p 0.13). After 24 h, proliferation modestly increased across groups with values of 72.0 5.20 (39C), 68.0 4.46 (37C) and 62.0 6.08 (41C) (p 0.45). Overall, 39C produced the highest proliferation at both time points, though effects did not reach significance. These findings suggest that mild hyperthermia (39C) may transiently stimulate bADSC metabolic activity and proliferation, possibly via. pro-survival signalling and induction of heat shock responses, whereas higher thermal load (41C) tends toward neutral or slightly adverse effects.