In vivo effects acute EtOH on rat α and β luteinizing hormone gene expression

The suppressive effects of ethanol (EtOH) on the male rodent reproductive axis, especially on serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, are well known. In this study we examined, in coordinate fashion, the effects of EtOH on LH secretion and on steady-state levels of the mRNA for the two genes that direct LH synthesis, namely α- and β-LH. A single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of EtOHgiven to castrated male rats produced a statistically significant fall in serum LH levels at 1.5 (p<0.05) and 3 hours (p<0.01) after injection compared to saline-injected controls