Effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on the biosynthesis of testosterone in the rodent testes

Theodore J. Cicero, Roy D. Bell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on testicular steroidogenesis were examined in enzymatically dispersed cells of the rodent testes. Both drugs significantly inhibited gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis, but acetaldehyde was considerably more potent (>1000 times) than ethanol. To determine the step in testosterone's biosynthetic pathway which was inhibited by the two drugs, cells were incubated in the presence of [3H]pregnenolone and [3H]progesterone, and the amount of label incorporated into testosterone and its precursors was determined. Ethanol and acetaldehyde inhibited only the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone; none of the other precursors of testosterone was affected.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)814-819
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume94
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 16 1980

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