Abstract :
The noise stress, after it passes through the hearing apparatus, not only affects theauditory apparatus but also other body functions. The alterations in the levels ofcortical hormone, adrenocorticosterone, nor-epinephrine hormone (which areprimarily considered as stress hormones) on follicular stimulating hormone,testosterone, and lutinizing hormone were reported in relation with stress . Malealbino rats weighing 200 to 250 grams were exposed to 100 dB of noise for onehour and three hours in acute group and daily one hour exposure for 60 day, and90 day in chronic group. The serum testosterone levels were measured in theseanimals. There was significant reduction in serum testosterone levels and this wassimilar with earlier reports.The tissues were collected for light and confocalmicroscopic study. 100dB of traffic noise exposure of varying duration had definitepermanent effect on testicular histology and morphology and on the male sexhormone . The adaptation mechanism was noticed at the hormonal level only butthe structural changes noticed were definite and permanent. The agglutinateddead sperms revealed the possibility of infertily when chronically exposed to noisestress.
