The relationship between alcohol, liver disease, and testicular pathology

Impotence, infertility and feminization have been frequently reported among male cirrhotic patients. Previous studies have suggested that liver disease was the basis of these effects. Recent clinical and laboratory experimental studies have suggested that alcohol consumption may have a direct effect on both testosterone metabolism and spermatogenesis. The effect may be mediated through the central nervous system or directly on the testes. The present study compared the pathology in the liver and testes and the estimated alcohol consumption among men who had died suddenly from a variety of causes. Of 137 men studied, 20(14%) had moderate to severe decrease in spermatogenesis. Only 9 of 19 with decreased spermatogenesis also had severe or very severe fatty infiltration of the liver. However, 17 of 19 were classified as heavy alcohol drinkers and 14 were estimated to consume at least 417 gm of alcohol per week. Finally, the alcohol history was reviewed in relation to liver and testicular pathology. Only a weak association between the liver and testes pathology was noted.