Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 082 ameliorates heat stress-induced testicular injury by modulating the gut microbiota

Heat stress has become one of the major threats affecting animal reproductive performance. Although probiotics show potential in maintaining testicular health, their protective effects and underlying mechanisms against heat stress-induced testicular injury remain unclear. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 082 (LP082) was administered to heat-stressed mice, and its role and mechanism in alleviating testicular damage were systematically evaluated through biochemical assays, histopathological analysis, gut microbiota diversity profiling, and gas chromatography-based quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The results showed that heat stress significantly reduced testicular weight in mice, caused testicular tissue damage, and triggered pronounced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. LP082 intervention notably ameliorated heat stress-induced gut dysbiosis: on one hand, it significantly decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Klebsiella and Bacteroides, repaired intestinal barrier damage, and effectively blocked the translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the gut to the circulatory system, thereby reducing systemic LPS load; on the other hand, it significantly promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacteria including Akkermansia, Lactiplantibacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibaculum, thus elevating SCFAs levels. These improvements collectively mitigated systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, ultimately alleviating testicular tissue damage. In summary, LP082 exerts protective effects against heat stress-induced testicular damage via modulation of the " gut-testis axis," providing both theoretical insights and experimental evidence for developing probiotic-based strategies to safeguard male reproductive health under high-temperature conditions.