Simultaneous Effect of Noise Stress and Opium Addiction on Adult Rat Sperm Parameters: An Experimental Study

Background: There are considerable opium addicts, particularly among workers in Iran’s industrial sectors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of simultaneous exposure to excessive noise and opium addiction on adult rat sperm parameters. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 42 adult Wistar male rats in 6 groups were studied as follows: group 1 control, group 2 exposed to noise (100 dB) 8 h/day, group 3 received daily 50 mg/case opium solution, group 4 received daily 100 mg/case opium solution, group 5 received daily 50 mg/case opium solution and exposed to noise 8h/day, and group 6 received daily 100 mg/case opium solution and exposed to noise 8h/day. After 50 days, cauda epididymis was removed for sperm parameters examination (WHO guidelines). Results: In the groups receiving opium (50 and 100 mg/case), sperm count, sperm viability, and normal sperm morphology (%) significantly decreased compared to the control group. Exposure to noise and consumption of opium solution simultaneously significantly reduced the count, viability, and percentage of sperm with normal morphology in both selected doses, as well as a significant difference between groups 5 and 6 in count, viability, and normal sperm morphology(%) parameters(P 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, noise exposure and taking opium would actively reduce the count, viability, and normal sperm morphology. It is therefore suggested that the mechanism of such effects should be investigated in animal and human studies.