Studies on alcoholism. III alterations of nucleic acids, enzyme profile and sex hormones in rat testes of growing rats due to chronic alcohol ingestion

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the chronic effects of ethyl alcohol [20% in drinking water] on some biochemical and physiological parameters in testes of growing albino rats. This study lasted for 20 weeks of daily treatment with the test article. Following are the results obtained 1- Chronic alcohol consumption has resulted in reduced testicular weight particularly 9 weeks post intoxication and hereafter [expressed in g/100g body weight]. 2. Nucleic acids were found to decrease significantly due to alcohol intake especially RNA which was shown to be more sensitive and decreased earlier than DNA. 3. Similar results were also obtained concerning total protein content. 4. With the exception of nuclease enzymes [RNase and DNase] which elevated in response to alcohol abuse, the remaining enzymes assayed in this study such as alcohol dehydrogenase [ADH], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] showed lower values than control levels but with different magnitudes of decreases. 5. Sex hormones were found to be changed differently. Testosterone levels were found to be reduced in both serum and testis whereas estradiol elevated substantially in response to alcohol intake. 6. Alcohol consumption has resulted in decreased level of zinc in the testis. The foregoing changes appeared to be, at least partly, behind the deleterious effects that ethanol exerts on male reproductive organs especially the testis