Ethanol: A Gonadal Toxin in the Mature Rat of Both Sexes

摘要: A diet containing 5% ethanol, accounting for 36% of the total calories or a similar in which dextrimaltose was isocalorically substituted fed to sexually mature adult male and female rats determine whether alcohol feeding such animals could produce gonadal failure as it does weanling animals. After 4 mo feeding, alcohol-fed both sexes, when compared controls, demonstrated atrophy. Such atrophy manifested by loss ovarian (p < 0.05) testicular 0.01) mass, reduced sex steroid levels [progesterone females testosterone males (both p 0.05)], responsive tissues. studied macroscopic histologic evidence estrogen effect, while only androgen stimulation be demonstrated. In plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) were not increased would expected presence failure. contrast, follicle-stimulating (FSH) significantly all sex-matched controls. These findings confirm extend our prior studies that demonstrate is toxin. Moreover, they associated with central hypothalamic-pituitary defect LH but FSH secretion, has been shown exist previously humans. Thus, capable producing injury presumably man after, well before, puberty if ingested sufficient quantities over long enough interval.