Multiple mechanisms of ethanol-induced gonadal toxicity to adult male rats.
In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying the alcohol-induced pathogenesis of testis, acute as well as chronic studies were undertaken in adult male rats. Ethanol reduced significantly the plasma and testicular testosterone contents in treated rats even at moderate dose levels. The alterations in pituitary gonadotrophins, LH and FSH, demonstrated a central defect in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis. Major microsomal enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of testosterone, viz. 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and steroidogenic mixed function oxidases were markedly inhibited in a dose and duration dependent manner. The terminal enzyme 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was, however, unaffected by ethanol treatments except at a higher dose level of 6 g/kg body wt. Although, the activity of testicular alcohol dehydrogenase was relatively unchanged, a marked induction in the activity of cytosolic conjugation enzyme, GSH-s-transferase was noticed. The present study demonstrates the major role of the metabolism of ethanol in the underlying cause for in vivo toxicity of ethanol and warrants its further consideration.
Singh
S K
SK
Hormone Research Laboratory, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India.
Pandey
R S
RS
D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D000431:Ethanol