Review Article

Biomarkers of Hyperthermia in Male Wistar Rats: A Comprehensive Review

Anjali Kumari¹*, Anubha Kumari², Mihir Kumar Prasad³, Bharti Kumari⁴, Nikhil Kumar⁵

and Rakesh Kumar Sinha²

¹Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi–835215, Jharkhand, India
²Department of Biotechnology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh–825319, Jharkhand, India
³Department of Biotechnology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Lalpur, Amarkantak–484887, Madhya Pradesh, India

⁴Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi–835215, Jharkhand, India

⁵Department of Botany, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Jharkhand, India

*Corresponding author e-mail: ar1084174@gmail.com

(Received: 01/09/2025; Revised: 10/12/2025; Accepted: 20/12/2025; Published: 30/12/2025)

ABSTRACT

Hyperthermia, a pathophysiological condition characterized by excessive body heat, triggers systemic, cellular, and molecular stress responses. Male Wistar rats are widely employed as experimental models due to their physiological similarity to humans and reproducible responses to heat stress. Classical biomarkers, including body temperature, corticosterone, peptic ulcers, blood-brain barrier permeability, and fecal pellet output, provide limited insight into the complex molecular cascades induced by heat exposure. This review comprehensively examines biochemical, oxidative stress, inflammatory, renal, hepatic, haematological, and tissue-specific biomarkers in male Wistar rats subjected to hyperthermia. In addition, we explore molecular pathways underlying cellular injury, apoptosis, and organ dysfunction. Understanding these biomarkers facilitates early detection of heat-induced stress, mechanistic studies, and the development of therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Hyperthermia, Biomarkers, Wistar rats, Cellular injury