Influence of alcohol on the reproductive system of the male rat.

Twelve male rats were treated with alcohol by an oral self administration technique. The testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, kidneys, spleen, and liver were recovered from each animal. All organs were weighed and prepared for histological studies. Organs from experimental animals, with the exception of the liver, weighed significantly less than the corresponding controls. The testes of alcohol-treated animals revealed the following changes: thickened capsule, atrophic seminiferous tubules and damaged germinal epithelium, in addition to multinucleated giant cells, fragmented spermatozoa, and desquamated spermatocytes in the lumen of the tubules. Atrophic ductules containing very few spermatozoa were observed in the epididymides of these animals. The seminal vesicles were small and lined by degenerated epithelium. The serum testosterone levels were significantly reduced in alcohol-treated animals, compared to the controls. The present investigation indicates that alcohol adversely affects spermatogenesis and testicular function.