Male fertility and reproduction can be affected by stress. The aim of the present study was histomorphometric evaluation of the role of glucocorticoids during chronic restraint stress on spermatogenesis. Twenty four male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated randomly to four equal groups; stress group, mifepristone (RU486)-treated group, stress/RU486 and control groups. In stress group, the rats were restrained 1 h/day for 12 days. In RU486 group, the rats were injected RU486 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg for 12 days. In stress/RU486 group, the rats were injected RU486 1 h before the stress process for 12 days. The testes of the all groups were removed and on 10 circular transverse sections of tubules stained with hematoxylin-eosin, histomorphometric parameters including cellular (germinal epithelium) diameter and area of the seminiferous tubules, total diameter and cross sectional area, number of seminiferous tubules per unit area, and numerical density of the tubules of the seminiferous tubules were measured. Restraint stress reduced lumen diameter, thickness of germinal epithelium and numerical density of seminiferous tubules (P<0.05). This reduction was reversed by subcutaneous injection of the anti-glucocorticoid, RU486 prior to stress session (P<0.05). In conclusion, chronic stress acts on testicular tissue via glucocorticoid receptors to suppress spermatogenesis in male rats.