Heat stress (HS) is challenging in humans and animals as it is a complicated regulatory mechanism. This prompted us to characterize the physiological and molecular responses of a HS-animal model. In this study, a rat model system was developed by using three temperature treatments (40°C, 42°C, and 43°C) and sixteen biochemical indicators in blood at 42°C for 30 min (H30), 60 min (H60), and 120 min (H120). In addition, transcriptomic profiling was carried out in H120-rats' blood, liver, and adrenal gland samples for detection of the genes of interest. Our findings demonstrated that the adrenocorticotropic hormone, catalase, prolactin, growth hormone, and lactic acid have significant spatiotemporal variation in the H120-rats as compared with the control. Furthermore, through transcriptomic screening, we documented a high ratio of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in adrenal glands, liver, and blood, respectively. Among them, Nup153, Plxnb2, Stx7, Hspa9, Chordc1, Pde4d, Gm2α, and Rnf125 were associated with the regulation of HS and immune response processes. Notably, 36 and 314 of DEGs in blood and adrenal glands were detected in the composition of the extracellular exosome, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation analysis between gene transcripts and biochemical indicator levels identified the Lgals3, S1006, Fn1, F2, and Kng1l1 as key candidate genes for HS encoding extracellular exosomal proteins. On the basis of our results, it was concluded that the current rat model provides a molecular basis for future research in HS resistance in humans and livestock.Genes 2020, 11, 306 2 of 23 (e.g., crossbreeding), have not achieved long-lasting, cumulative and significant effects [9]. Thus, further molecular mechanisms and physiological consequences of HS using an animal model are highly recommended.Previous studies have shown HS-induced physiological and biochemical variations in many animals, such as rats [10,11], cows [12], and chickens [13]. The HS causes an imbalance of glucocorticoids, the adrenocorticotropic hormone, the growth hormone, and the norepinephrine hormone, resulting in detrimental metabolic changes [10,14,15]. Furthermore, a set of proteins involved in the antioxidant stress response and inflammatory response, including catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and C-reactive protein were affected by HS [16][17][18][19]. Recently, microarray and next-generation sequencing studies have displayed widespread changes in gene expression in response to HS, the exploration of useful indicators to predict and prevent HS in animals has yet to be defined.In the context of the critical effects of HS on human and animal health, the current study was designed to explore the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic responses to HS in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The current research targets the key biomarkers that are sensitive to HS. In addition, the altered expression of genes related to HS response was detected by performing transcriptomic screening in blood, liver, and adrenal gland tissues post HS. Collectively...