Is Ethanol a Testicular Toxin?

Abstract

Recently considerable evidence has accumulated to suggest that ethanol is a direct testicular toxin [1-7]. Thus Badr and Bartke have demonstrated that alcohol administration is associated with a dose-dependent decline in plasma testosterone in mice [1]. More recently, Van Thiel and his collaborators have demonstrated that chronic alcohol administration to weanling as well as sexually mature adult animals is associated with the development of testicular atrophy with associated reduction in plasma testosterone concentrations and presumed reproductive failure manifested by gross germinal injury in such animals [2, 3]. Despite these elegant studies the question remains, is alcohol a direct testicular toxin or is the gonadal injury observed in alcohol-ingesting man and animals a consequence of associated malnutrition, liver disease, or alcohol-induced hypothalam-ic-pituitary injury [5-7]. To answer this question we have examined the effect of ethanol on the production and secretion of testosterone by the isolated perfused rat testis. Thus we have been able to examine the effect of this specific presumed gonadal toxin independent of hepatic metabolism and/or hypothalamic suppression.