title: Effects of ethanol ingestion on insulin binding to rat Leydig cells.
abstract: Effects of ethanol treatment and its withdrawal on insulin binding to isolated rat Leydig cells were studied. Mature rats were given ethanol by gastric intubation for 30 days at a dose of 3.0 g/kg body weight, twice daily, as a 25% (v/v) aqueous solution and treatment was withdrawn for the subsequent 30 days in an another group. Ethanol treatment markedly increased serum insulin and reduced the 125I-insulin binding to Leydig cells and the activities of Leydig cellular steroidogenic enzymes such as 3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD. Withdrawal of ethanol treatment restored these changed values to their normal levels. The results suggest the possible involvement of subnormal insulin actions, as that of LH, in the ethanol-induced impairment of Leydig cellular steroidogenesis and the resulting hypoandrogenization associated with alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Dr.A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shanthakumari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sudha
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govindarajulu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D000431:Ethanol