title: Ethanol directly stimulates dihydrotestosterone conversion to 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol in rat liver.
abstract: The present results demonstrate for the first time in rat liver, that low ethanol concentrations (2.2 and 22 mM) directly stimulate dihydrotestosterone conversion to 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol. Because this effect was blocked by 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, or by the addition of a saturating NADH concentration, this action probably is mediated by hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity through elevation of the NADH/NAD+ ratio. It remains to be determined whether this effect of ethanol actually reduces circulating and/or target tissue dihydrotestosterone levels; nevertheless, it is tempting to speculate that this action, in part, is responsible for the reported adverse effects of alcohol on male reproductive functions.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Murono
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fisher-Simpson
mesh_terms: D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077604:Fomepizole; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D009243:NAD; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D000431:Ethanol; D009249:NADP; D000077604:Fomepizole; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase