The Effect of Ethanol on Male Rodent Reproduction and Growth

Alcohol abuse in men has been long known to result in testicular atrophy, impotence, and reduced reproductive function, and only recently have the mechanisms responsible for this clinical picture been elucidated. Although direct gonadal toxicity after ethanol (ETOH) exposure has been well documented, the failure of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to rise in the presence of blunted testosterone values and impaired spermatogenesis supports a central neuroendocrine defect as well. The neuroendocrine target of ethanol’s action appears to be mediated both at a pituitary and a supra-pituitary level. Alcohol also appears to be disruptive to the male growth hormone axis, resulting in suppression of both peripheral growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels, in addition to altering pituitary GH synthesis. This chapter, which will deal with male reproductive and growth dysfunction, will attempt to summarize the available data on this topic.