Noise exposure effect on testicular histology, morphology and on male steroidogenic hormone.

The noise stress, after it passes through the hearing apparatus, not only affects the auditory apparatus but also other body functions. The alterations in the levels of cortical hormone, adrenocorticosterone, nor-epinephrine hormone (which are primarily considered as stress hormones) on follicular stimulating hormone, testosterone, and lutinizing hormone were reported in relation with stress. Male albino rats weighing 200 to 250 grams were exposed to 100 dB of noise for one hour and three hours in acute group and daily one hour exposure for 60 day, and 90 day in chronic group. The serum testosterone levels were measured in these animals. There was significant reduction in serum testosterone levels and this was similar with earlier reports. The tissues were collected for light and confocal microscopic study. 100dB of traffic noise exposure of varying duration had definite permanent effect on testicular histology and morphology and on the male sex hormone. The adaptation mechanism was noticed at the hormonal level only but the structural changes noticed were definite and permanent. The agglutinated dead sperms revealed the possibility of infertily when chronically exposed to noise stress.