open access

Vol 66, No 1 (2015)
Original paper
Submitted: 2014-06-07
Accepted: 2014-10-06
Published online: 2015-03-02
Get Citation

Chronic noise exposure and testosterone deficiency — meta-analysis and meta-regression of experimental studies in rodents

Angel Dzhambov, Donka Dimitrova
DOI: 10.5603/EP.2015.0007
·
Pubmed: 25754280
·
Endokrynol Pol 2015;66(1):39-46.

open access

Vol 66, No 1 (2015)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2014-06-07
Accepted: 2014-10-06
Published online: 2015-03-02

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic psychological distress can cause suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis and thus lead to male hypogonadism, which is associated with psycho-social dysfunction, chronic diseases, and as a result, considerable economic costs. Conversely, noise is a prototypal environmental stressor of growing importance, already linked to birth outcomes and diabetes. However, its effects on male testosterone levels have been paid little attention.

Material and methods: This paper reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies in rodents, which have examined the effect of chronic noise stress on serum testosterone levels. A systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Internet yielded seven studies. A quality effects meta-analytical model was applied to compute pooled Hedges’s g. Quality effects meta-regression was carried out as well.

Results: We found pooled Hedges’s g of –2.41 (95% CI: –3.28, –1.54), indicating a very large effect of noise exposure on testosterone. Metaregression confirmed that the overall duration of exposure explained a significant proportion of the variance across individual effect sizes (Q (1) = 3.95, p = 0.047). However, there was considerable inter-study heterogeneity (I2 = 82%) and publication bias (p = 0.016). After inputting two studies previously thought to be missing, the pooled effect dropped to g = –1.53 (95% CI: –3.01, –0.05).

Conclusions: Chronic noise exposure of ≈ 100 dB leads to a significant reduction of serum testosterone in male rodents. Research on humans is highly warranted, especially given the steady trend in Western societies for increasing the burden of both male hypogonadism and noise pollution.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic psychological distress can cause suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis and thus lead to male hypogonadism, which is associated with psycho-social dysfunction, chronic diseases, and as a result, considerable economic costs. Conversely, noise is a prototypal environmental stressor of growing importance, already linked to birth outcomes and diabetes. However, its effects on male testosterone levels have been paid little attention.

Material and methods: This paper reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies in rodents, which have examined the effect of chronic noise stress on serum testosterone levels. A systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Internet yielded seven studies. A quality effects meta-analytical model was applied to compute pooled Hedges’s g. Quality effects meta-regression was carried out as well.

Results: We found pooled Hedges’s g of –2.41 (95% CI: –3.28, –1.54), indicating a very large effect of noise exposure on testosterone. Metaregression confirmed that the overall duration of exposure explained a significant proportion of the variance across individual effect sizes (Q (1) = 3.95, p = 0.047). However, there was considerable inter-study heterogeneity (I2 = 82%) and publication bias (p = 0.016). After inputting two studies previously thought to be missing, the pooled effect dropped to g = –1.53 (95% CI: –3.01, –0.05).

Conclusions: Chronic noise exposure of ≈ 100 dB leads to a significant reduction of serum testosterone in male rodents. Research on humans is highly warranted, especially given the steady trend in Western societies for increasing the burden of both male hypogonadism and noise pollution.

Get Citation

Keywords

hypogonadism; testosterone deficiency; male fertility; noise exposure; noise pollution; rats; quality effects model; meta-analysis

About this article
Title

Chronic noise exposure and testosterone deficiency — meta-analysis and meta-regression of experimental studies in rodents

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 66, No 1 (2015)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

39-46

Published online

2015-03-02

Page views

1933

Article views/downloads

2405

DOI

10.5603/EP.2015.0007

Pubmed

25754280

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2015;66(1):39-46.

Keywords

hypogonadism
testosterone deficiency
male fertility
noise exposure
noise pollution
rats
quality effects model
meta-analysis

Authors

Angel Dzhambov
Donka Dimitrova

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