Effects of ethanol ingestion on insulin binding to rat Leydig cells

Effects of ethanol treatment and its withdrawal on insulin binding to isolated rat Leydig cells were studied. Mature rats were given ethanol by gastric intubation for 30 days at a dose of 3.0 g/kg body weight, twice daily, as a 25% (v/v) aqueous solution and treatment was withdrawn for the subsequent 30 days in an another group. Ethanol treatment markedly increased serum insulin and reduced the 125I-insulin binding to Leydig cells and the activities of Leydig cellular steroidogenic enzymes such as 3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD. Withdrawal of ethanol treatment restored these changed values to their normal levels. The results suggest the possible involvement of subnormal insulin actions, as that of LH, in the ethanol-induced impairment of Leydig cellular steroidogenesis and the resulting hypoandrogenization associated with alcohol abuse.