Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41768992›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in cell and developmental biology2026

Superior thermotolerance in young versus adult rats undergoing heat stroke is associated with age-related differences in intestinal barrier integrity and heat shock protein responses.

Yuanhao Cai, Lei Lei, Jikuai Chen, Xi Zhao, Juelin Chen, Jiawei Zhou, Yankun Pei, Yawei Wang, Yitong Gong, Jianyao You and 10 more

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Article in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Yuanhao Cai *Department of Pediatrics, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Lei Lei *Department of Pediatrics, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Jikuai Chen *Department of Health Toxicology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Xi ZhaoDepartment of Pediatrics, Zhabei Central Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Juelin ChenDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Jiawei ZhouDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yankun PeiDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yawei WangDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yitong GongDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Jianyao YouDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yangyang CaoDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Muge SongDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Jun MaHeatstroke Treatment and Research Center of PLA, Sanya, China.
Weiyi MaDepartment of Emergency, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Meng WangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Hainan Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Sanya, China.
Wenjun ChangFaculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Qing SongHeatstroke Treatment and Research Center of PLA, Sanya, China.
Lin ZhouDepartment of Pediatrics, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Lei LiDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Shuogui XuDepartment of Emergency and Trauma, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Heat stroke (HS) is a life-threatening condition exacerbated by rising global temperatures, with children identified as a particularly vulnerable population. Despite this, basic research on age-related differences in thermotolerance remains limited. In this study, we established a high-temperature and high-humidity exposure model with real-time core body temperature (CBT) monitoring to investigate thermotolerance in young versus adult rats. The results showed that young rats exhibited prolonged CBT plateau phases and delayed HS onset, indicating enhanced thermotolerance compared to adult rats. This was accompanied by significantly milder multi-organ injury and reduced intestinal barrier damage. Young rats displayed lower serum levels of D-lactate and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, better-preserved intestinal epithelial ultrastructure, and higher expression of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, Occludin, and E-cadherin. Moreover, young rats showed elevated expression of heat shock proteins (HSP40 and HSP70) in intestinal tissues, which likely contributed to improved barrier integrity and cellular protection. These findings suggest that enhanced intestinal barrier stability and robust HSP responses underlie the superior thermotolerance observed in young rats. However, despite their physiological advantages, infants and young children often suffer poor HS outcomes due to behavioral limitations and caregiver negligence, especially in enclosed environments such as parked vehicles. This highlights the critical need for enhanced caregiver awareness, improved pediatric emergency response training, and preventive strategies to mitigate pediatric HS risk.

Indexed as

core body temperatureheat shock proteinsheat strokeintestinal barrierthermotolerance

Identifiers

PMID41768992
PMCPMC12946125

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