Ethanol directly increases dihydrotestosterone conversion primarily to 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol in rat Leydig cells.
Our studies demonstrate that direct stimulation of dihydrotestosterone metabolism by ethanol (2.2 - 65 mM) in rat Leydig cells primarily involves an increase in 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol. Although the enzyme catalyzing this conversion, 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, is localized in the microsomal fraction of Leydig cells, ethanol does not increase 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol formation in isolated microsomes, presumably because of the removal of soluble alcohol dehydrogenase activity, which we propose mediates this action. Because 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol is generally considered a weak or inactive androgen, this effect may function to decrease dihydrotestosterone secretion by Leydig cells and/or to reduce the availability of this androgen in responsive tissues.
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000378:metabolism*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000732:Androstanols; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D000431:Ethanol