[Mechanism of suppression of testosterone biosynthesis by ethanol]

The paper is concerned with a study of the mechanism of ethanol induced testosterone biosynthesis inhibition in rat testis. The time course of acute alcoholic intoxication (4 g of ethanol per 1 kg of body mass) has shown that the size and direction of testosterone concentration shifts resemble those of corticosterone. The level of the latter correlates with the ethanol concentration rising at the early time of the experiment and lowering up to 26-27% in 4-8 h. The content of testis cyclic AMP, leu-enkephalin and beta-endorphin remains unchanged indicating against the hypothesis of ethanol effects mediation by the testicular opioid system.