Cold is a significant environmental stress factor. Studies have shown that exposure to cold environments can cause local or whole-body temperatures to decrease, posing a severe threat to overall health [1–3]. Cold exposure has adverse effects on the female reproductive system [4–6], affecting ovarian [7] and uterine [4] functions and hormone secretion [8]. Possible reasons include: imbalance of ET-1 and its receptor expression leads to local tissue microvascular circulatory disturbances [9]; affects follicular development by activating sympathetic nerve activity in the ovary [10, 11]; Cold stress can also cause reproductive hormone disorders, causing uterine arteries to contract, resulting in reduced blood flow [12]. However, the exact mechanisms through which these changes occur have not been wellelucidated.

FSH is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by adenohypophysial gonadotropin cells. Studies have shown that its production is controlled by hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and is also regulated by the feedback of estradiol (E2). More than 95% of the E2 in circulation is secreted by the ovary, and the growth and development of follicles during each maturation stage require the presence of E2. In addition, E2 can directly promote the development and maturation of eggs and the growth of ovarian granulocytes, in cooperation with FSH [5]. Follistatin (FST) is a nonsteroidal ovarian hormone that regulates the secretion and signal transduction of sex hormones and promotes oocyte maturation and embryonic development. FST