Mechanism of alcohol-induced damage involving nitric oxide in the reproductive system of male mice

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of alcohol-induced damage involving nitric oxide (NO) in the reproductive system of male mice.Methods C57BL/6J male mice (10 weeks old) were randomly divided into 2 groups:the con-trol group ( orally treated with 10%sucrose daily for 15 weeks) and the alcohol group ( orally treated with 8 g/kg daily for 15 weeks) . Fifteen weeks later, epididymises were collected for the observation of sperm number and activity.At the same time, blood samples were taken to detect the level of serum testosterone.Testes were also collected for the detection of serum testosterone levels, the levels of NO and OONO-, as well as the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ) , endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS).Results As compared with that of the control group (221 ±55) ×106/ml)(P<0.05), the number of sperms in the animals of the alcohol group was obviously decreased (394 ±60) ×106/ml) (P<0.05), and the activity (P<0.05) of sperms in the animals of the alcohol group was also decreased (54 ±13)%, as compared with(23 ±8)%of the control group(P<0.05).Laboratory tests also revealed that the levels of testosterone in serum and testes were all decreased (P<0.05).The levels of NO and OONO-were all increased in the alcohol-treated mice (P<0.05), and the expression levels of iNOS and nNOS were also up-regulated in the testes of the alcohol-treated mice.Conclusion Enhanced synthesis of NO in the testis of male mice following prolonged consumption of alcohol was one of the important mechanisms involved in the injury of the reproductive system of adult male mice.