Effect of Acute and Chronic Simulated High Altitude on Male Reproduction and Testosterone Level

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Abstract
Forty, sexually mature, male rats were divided into two control and two treated groups. One of the treated groups was exposed five times to 6000 m of high altitude (acute exposure), and the other treated group was exposed 70 times (chronic exposure). Acute exposure had no pathological effect on the male reproductive tract or blood testosterone level; however, in animals that received chronic exposure, there was significant reduction in plasma testosterone level, 80% of spermatogenic tissue was highly vacuolated, nuclei of the interstitial tissue revealed pyknosis, and dilation of the blood vessels was noted throughout the testis.