Effects of ethanol intoxication on LH receptors and glucose oxidation in Leydig cells of adult albino rats.

The present study was designed to assess the dose-dependent effects of ethanol on Leydig cells of adult albino rats of the Wistar strain. Ethanol was given orally through gastric intubation at three different dose levels (0.5, 1 and 3 g/kg body weight) twice daily as 25% (v/v) aqueous solution for 15 days. Ethanol treatment reduced body and testes weights. Serum testosterone registered a decrease while estradiol levels became elevated. Activities of the steroidogenic enzymes 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) and 17-ketosteroid reductase (17-KSR) decreased significantly. The glucose oxidative capacity of Leydig cells was impaired by ethanol treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, ethanol treatment caused significant reduction in LH receptors on the Leydig cell membrane at higher doses (1 and 3 g/kg) whereas no significant change was observed with the lower dose (0.5 g/kg) as compared to controls. The present findings suggest that the decrease in Leydig cellular LH receptors, glucose oxidation and the activities of 3beta-HSD and 17-KSR are possible mechanisms by which ethanol treatment perturbs Leydig cell steroidogenesis.