Transfer of deuterium from [1,1-2H2]ethanol to steroids and organic acids in the rat testis.

Rats were given [1,1-2H2]ethanol in a single dose, and the 2H content was determined in testicular steroids and in organic acids of low molecular mass in the testis, liver and blood. The acids were quantified by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of t-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives with [2H4]lactate as internal standard. In addition to lactate, pyruvate, 3-hydroxybutyrate and acids of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the testis was shown to contain 2-hydroxybutyrate, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate, 2-hydroxyisohexanoate and glycerate. No 2H was found in pregnenolone, 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol or testosterone, whereas the abundance of monodeuterated molecules of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol and its 3 beta-isomer were 7.6% and 11.2% respectively. The abundance of monodeuterated lactate was 7.0% in the testis and 5.3% in the blood. The other acids were less labelled but 3-hydroxybutyrate had a higher 2H content in the testis (3.1%) than in the liver. These results support the contention that ethanol is oxidized in an alcohol dehydrogenase-catalysed reaction in testis in vivo and that the acute inhibition of the testosterone production is due at least partly to a redox effect. The labelling and increased concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in the testis indicate that a change in the mitochondrial redox state might be involved.