Alcohol and sexual function

The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) on Ethanol-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic effect of ginger extract on ethanol-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. Twenty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated daily for 28 days as follows: control, control-ginger (1 g/kg of body weight [BW]/day by gavage), ethanol group (ethanol 4 g/kg of BW/day by gavage), and ginger-ethanol group. At the end of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed and their testes were removed and used for measurement of the total homocysteine (tHcy), trace elements, antioxidant enzymes activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results in the ethanol group indicate that ethanol decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA and tHcy compared with the control groups ( P < .05). In ginger-ethanol group, ginger improved antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced tHcy and MDA compared to ethanol group ( P < .05). It can be concluded that ginger protects the ethanol-induced testicular damage and improves the hormonal levels, trace elements, antioxidant enzymes activity, and decreases tHcy and MDA.

A biopsychosocial approach to women's sexual function and dysfunction at midlife: A narrative review

A satisfying sex life is an important component of overall well-being, but sexual dysfunction is common, especially in midlife women. The aim of this review is (a) to define sexual function and dysfunction, (b) to present theoretical models of female sexual response, (c) to examine longitudinal studies of how sexual function changes during midlife, and (d) to review treatment options. Four types of female sexual dysfunction are currently recognized: Female Orgasmic Disorder, Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder, Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder, and Substance/Medication-Induced Sexual Dysfunction. However, optimal sexual function transcends the simple absence of dysfunction. A biopsychosocial approach that simultaneously considers physical, psychological, sociocultural, and interpersonal factors is necessary to guide research and clinical care regarding women's sexual function. Most longitudinal studies reveal an association between advancing menopause status and worsening sexual function. Psychosocial variables, such as availability of a partner, relationship quality, and psychological functioning, also play an integral role. Future directions for research should include deepening our understanding of how sexual function changes with aging and developing safe and effective approaches to optimizing women's sexual function with aging. Overall, holistic, biopsychosocial approaches to women's sexual function are necessary to fully understand and treat this key component of midlife women's well-being.

Effects of red ginseng extract on the epididymal sperm motility of mice exposed to ethanol

The protective effects of red ginseng extract and ginseng wine against ethanol-induced male reproductive toxicity were evaluated in male mice using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Mice were divided into 4 groups of 10 and fed plain saline, 6 g/kg per d of ethanol in saline, red ginseng extract plus ethanol, or a fermented preparation of red ginseng extract daily for 5 weeks. We found that the average seminal vesicle weight was significantly lower in the ethanol-treated group compared to the control group, while those of the ginseng-treated groups tended to be higher than the ethanol-treated group. We found a significant decrease in sperm motility and progressiveness in mice treated with ethanol for 5 weeks, while administration of ethanol plus red ginseng extract appeared to minimize the negative effects of ethanol toxicity on male fertility. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were insignificantly lower in the ethanol-treated group than in the control group.

Effects of ethanol consumption on chromatin condensation and DNA integrity of epididymal spermatozoa in rat

Alcohol abuse is considered as one of the problems associated with poor semen production and sperm quality. Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption may affect spermatozoal chromatin disorders through apoptosis. Therefore, for the first time, this experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of ethanol consumption on sperm parameters and chromatin integrity of spermatozoa aspirated from cauda epididymis of rats. Twenty adult Wistar rats were divided into ethanol consumption and control groups. Access to ethanol and water was provided ad libitum for experimental and control animals, respectively. The cauda epididymal spermatozoa were aspirated for analysis of sperm parameters and sperm chromatin integrity with aniline blue (AB), chromomycin A3 (CMA3), toluidine blue (TB), and acridine orange (AO) assays. Sperm progressive and nonprogressive motility of ethanol-consuming rats were significantly decreased compared with control animals (P < .05). In addition, the rates of AB-reacted spermatozoa were similar in both groups (P > .05). However, with regard to CMA3, AO, and TB stainings, there was a significant increase in ethanol group when compared with the controls (P < .05). The majority of TB+ and AO+ spermatozoa were higher than "cut-off" value in ethanol group, whereas the mean rates of CMA3+ spermatozoa was below the "cut-off" value in both groups. The results showed that ethanol consumption disturbs sperm motility, nuclear maturity and DNA integrity of spermatozoa in rat. Therefore, ethanol abuse results in the production of spermatozoa with less condensed chromatin, and this may be one possible cause of infertility following ethanol consumption.

Pharmacological effects on sexual function

Many drugs may have effects on sexual function. Sexual function is complex and psychological and relationship issues are likely to have greater impacts on sexual function in women than drugs. Although it is important to understand the effects of drugs on sexual function, physicians should use caution in "medicalization" of sexual function in women [106].

Effect of lifestyle exposures on sperm aneuploidy

Lifestyle exposures including cigarette smoke, alcohol, and caffeine have all been studied in relationship to male reproductive health. Over the years the focus has primarily been on semen quality and/or fertility. More recently, literature evaluating direct adverse effects of lifestyle exposures on sperm chromosomes and chromatin has grown due to concern that induced damage could be transmitted to offspring causing transgenerational health effects. In this paper we present a new analysis that summarizes published studies of smoking effects on sperm chromosome number and demonstrates a statistically significant increase in sperm disomy among smokers compared to nonsmokers (P < 0.001). In addition, new data on the effect of alcohol intake on sperm chromosome number are presented showing a rate ratio of 1.38 (95% CI 1.2, 1.6) for XY frequency in sperm of alcohol drinkers compared to nondrinkers.

Ethanol Exposure Decreases Cell Proliferation and Increases Apoptosis in Rat Testes

Ethanol exposure is known to suppress male reproductive activity in laboratory animals and humans. The present study was designed to evaluate whether chronic ethanol exposure decreases proliferative activity or increases apoptosis in the testes. Ethanol (1.5 g/kg or 3 g/kg i.p., 15% v/v in saline) was administrated to adult male rats for 10 days. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used as a proliferative marker. Western blot analysis showed that ethanol administration significantly reduced the level of PCNA. Also, immunoreactivity of PCNA-positive cells in the spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were decreased by ethanol exposure. However, the number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly increased in the testicular germ cells of ethanol-treated rats. Moreover, ethanol administration significantly increased the level of activated caspase-3 in testes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that ethanol may partly contribute to the suppression of male reproductive activity through a reduction of cell proliferation and an enhancement of cell death in rat testes.

Long-term alcohol exposure prior to conception results in lower fetal body weights

BACKGROUND

It is well known that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in lower birth weight babies but many women stop consuming alcohol prior to conception as a part of pregnancy planning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether alcohol consumption prior to conception may also have an effect on fetal development.

METHODS

Male and female C57BL/6J mice at 4, 6, or 8 weeks of age received either a single administration of alcohol (3.0 g/kg) via intragastric gavage (IG) each day for at least 60 days, or an isovolumetric IG administration of sterile water. After 60 treatment days, males and females within each age and treatment group were mated overnight. Females continued to receive daily alcohol treatments until conception. Males continued to receive treatments until all females were successfully mated. At conception, females were isolated and left undisturbed. On embryonic day 14, fetus number, size, and weight was determined.

RESULTS

Maternal food consumption, body weight at conception, and delay to conception onset did not differ between the two treatment groups or among the three age groups. Fetal body weights did not differ among the three age groups. Fetuses from females treated with alcohol had lower body weights compared to those treated with water. Male treatments did not seem to affect fetal body weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal growth and development can be affected by alcohol consumption prior to the time of conception. Alcohol consumption prior to conception is a potential risk factor to fetal outcome and an important consideration for those females planning to have children.

Enhancement of germ cell apoptosis induced by ethanol in transgenic mice overexpressing Fas Ligand

It was suggested that chronic ethanol exposure could result in testicular germ cell apoptosis, but the mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, we use a model of transgenic mice ubiquitously overexpressing human FasL to investigate whether Fas ligand plays a role in ethanol-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. Both wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic (TG) mice were treated with acute ethanol (20% v/v) by introperitoneal injection for five times. After ethanol injection, WT mice displayed up-regulation of Fas ligand in the testes, which was shown by FITC-conjugated flow cytometry and western blotting. Moreover, TG mice exhibited significantly more apoptotic germ cells than WT mice did after ethanol injection, which was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, PI staining flow cytometry and TUNEL staining. In addition, histopathological examination revealed that degenerative changes of epithelial component of the tubules occurred in FasL overexpressing transgenic mice while testicular morphology was normal in wild-type mice after acute ethanol exposure, suggesting FasL expression determines the sensitivity of testes to ethanol in mice. In summary, we provide the direct evidences that Fas ligand mediates the apoptosis of testicular germ cells induced by acute ethanol using FasL transgenic mice.

Effects of ethanol on embryonic and neonatal rat testes in organ cultures

Ethanol exposure in adult animals and humans has shown to elicit significant inhibitory effects on the function of male reproduction, but consequences of ethanol exposure on the embryonic and early postnatal testis development are not known. The current study investigated the effect of ethanol on embryonic and neonatal testis development using an organ culture technique. In embryonic day 13 (E13) testis organ cultures, ethanol had no effect on the testicular cord formation, the expression of Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) in Sertoli cells or the number of gonocytes. Similarly, in the ethanol-treated embryonic day 18 (E18) testes, both the number of gonocytes and the expression of GATA-4 and MIS were similar to those from the control testes. In contrast, in postnatal day 3 (P3) testes, ethanol at concentrations of 150 and 200 mM significantly decreased the number of gonocytes without affecting the expression of GATA-4 and MIS in Sertoli cells. This effect was shown to be resulting from the enhanced apoptosis of gonocytes. In addition, ethanol abnormally activated retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha), as indicated by increased nuclear localization of RARalpha with increasing doses of ethanol treatment. These observations suggest that the effect of ethanol on testis varies at different stages during embryonic and neonatal testis development. Furthermore, germ cells may be the main target for the action of ethanol on the early postnatal testis.

Hepatic estrogen receptors and alcohol intake

Human liver contains estrogen receptors (ER) which render it sensitive to estrogen. Chronic ethanol ingestion in humans and rats results in alterations of circulating sex steroid levels and expression of sex hormone-dependent phenotype. The analysis and quantitation of hepatic estrogen receptor (ER) activity and sex hormone-responsive proteins have been performed over the past two decades. Alcohol abuse appears to induce an increase in ER content of human liver, especially in patients with alcoholic hepatitis actively drinking. This observation is reproduced in an experimental model of chronic alcohol feeding of rats. In male rat liver, the increased ER expression induced by alcohol is associated with an elevated proliferation rate of the hepatocytes. In female liver, the ER content is not affected by alcohol intake and apoptosis prevails over proliferation. The feminization of the liver in males may protect the liver from the severe alcohol-induced liver injury seen in females.

Downregulation of nuclear sex steroid receptor activity correlates with severity of alcoholic liver injury

Chronic ethanol ingestion in rats and humans results in significant alterations in sex steroid levels and expression of sex hormone-dependent phenotype. In this study, we used the intragastric feeding model in male rats to determine hepatic sex hormone receptor activity under circumstances of chronic ethanol exposure and differing degrees of liver injury induced by type of dietary fat. Pathological analysis and quantitation of hepatic androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) activity, serum sex hormones, and sex hormone-responsive protein and mRNA expression were performed. The activity of the physiologically relevant nuclear form of both AR and ER was significantly decreased with ethanol and correlated inversely with the severity of liver injury. Serum testosterone levels, as well as expression of an androgen-dependent hepatic mRNA, were decreased by ethanol and progressive liver injury. Serum estradiol increased with liver injury. We postulate that these changes in receptor activity may be due to the oxidative stress, reduced cellular energy, and/or altered cytokine milieu known to occur in this model.

Effect of long-term alcohol abuse on male sexual function and serum gonadal hormone levels

PURPOSE

The relationship between chronic alcohol abuse and male sexual dysfunction and pituitary gonadal function abnormalities remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of chronic alcoholism on sexual functions and serum hormone levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-five chronically alcoholic men and a control group of thirty healthy non-alcoholic volunteers were enrolled in the study. Each of the men in the study and control group were interviewed according to a sexual dysfunction questionnaire by an urologist. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of hormone levels. Sera were stored at -70 degrees C for analysis.

RESULTS

The sexual desire and erection scores of alcoholic men were not statistically different from those of the control group. Fourteen out of the 45 alcoholic men complained of loss of erection during sexual activity. No significant difference in hormone levels between groups was found except for FSH.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of hepatic and gonadal failure in chronically alcoholic men, there is no significant difference in serum hormonal levels, sexual dysfunction form, and sexual functions between alcoholics and normal healthy non-alcoholic men.

Sex hormones and alcohol withdrawal: does a good supply of testosterone prevent serious symptoms during detoxification?

Owing to the clinical similarity between the male climacteric syndrome and the results of previous studies on the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in relation to sex hormones, we hypothesized that alcoholics with a poor supply of testosterone will develop more pronounced symptoms during alcohol withdrawal than alcoholics with high levels of testosterone. Fifty-two male alcoholics were studied. To test our hypothesis we entered the mean values of the hormones, the mean age, and the mean consumption of liquor (CL) the week before admittance as regressors in a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis with four subclass constructed from the CPRS as dependent variables. Our results indicate that patients with low levels of testosterone develop more neurotic-asthenic symptoms, such as indecision, worrying about trifles, fatigability, and lassitude during alcohol withdrawal. Further, high levels of SHBG were related to a history of seizures and younger alcoholics received higher ratings on the paranoid-aggressive subscale. It is concluded that there is a relation between levels of testosterone and symptoms during alcohol withdrawal. The question of a causal relationship remains to be answered, however. One way to illuminate this would be to add testosterone during detoxification, which may reduce the symptoms mentioned above analogous to the male climacteric syndrome, which could be prosperously treated by a supplement of testosterone. This treatment strategy would have obvious advantages compared to benzodiazepine detoxification as such drugs are potentially addictive.

The outbreeding of alcoholism

A hypothesis on the outbreeding of alcoholism is presented. Supporting evidence includes historical and biologic factors as well as the inverse relationship between the length of exposure to alcohol and the prevalence of alcoholism in societies.

Possible role of prolactin in the induction of hypogonadism by chronic alcohol treatment in the male rat

Treatment of adult male rats with ethanol for a period of six weeks resulted in a numerical but not significant increase in plasma prolactin levels together with a reduction in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Although basal plasma testosterone (T) levels were not affected in ethanol-treated animals, testicular weight was reduced and seminiferous tubules exhibited signs of atrophy. The responses of LH to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and T to hCG were significantly impaired in ethanol-treated rats (p less than 0.01). Treatment with bromocriptine (1 mg/kg body weight/day), resulted in the expected decrease in plasma levels of prolactin and an increase in basal plasma LH levels to the levels found in control groups. Basal plasma T levels were not affected by bromocriptine. However, both plasma LH responses to LHRH and plasma T responses to hCG were significantly improved by bromocriptine treatment in alcoholic rats and became similar to the responses measured in control animals. The results suggest that bromocriptine-induced suppression of prolactin release has a beneficial effect on ethanol-induced hypogonadism.

Thyroid and pituitary hormone responses to TRH in advanced nonalcoholic liver disease

Basal T4, T3, TSH, prolactin and growth hormone levels were determined in several groups: patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 14); patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis but without hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 26); cholangiolar carcinoma (n = 9); and normal controls age-matched to within 5 yr of the liver disease subjects studied. In addition, TRH stimulation (400 micrograms TRH) was performed; TSH, prolactin and growth hormone responses over a 180-min time interval were evaluated for each subject. The responses observed varied between liver disease groups. The presence or absence of hepatocellular carcinoma was found to determine, at least in part, the type of response observed. Similarly, the presence or absence of hepatic encephalopathy determined, and/or reflected, at least in part, the type of response observed. Finally, for purposes of continuity, basal and TRH-stimulated levels of TSH, prolactin, growth hormone, T4 and T3 are compared in 3 settings of cirrhosis: alcoholic, nonalcoholic postnecrotic cirrhosis, and postnecrotic cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chronic advanced liver disease and impotence: cause and effect?

The prevalence of impotence is increased in males who chronically abuse alcohol. Further, impotence may occur in the absence of liver disease in such men. In contrast, no data is available concerning the prevalence of impotence in nonalcoholic men with advanced liver disease. To investigate the relationship between alcohol and impotence in cirrhotic men, a self-administered questionnaire was completed by male alcoholic cirrhotics admitted to the medical service as well as by nonalcoholic cirrhotic liver transplant candidates admitted to the medical and surgical services of Presbyterian-University Hospital. Each participant was asked whether or not he had experienced impotence and if so, to report the frequency and duration of his impotence. The frequency of impotence was recorded on a weighted scale with four gradations: 4 = always; 3 = usually; 2 = sometimes; 1 = seldom. In addition, measures of hepatic injury and function as well as measures of the functional integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis for each subject evaluated were obtained. Fourteen of the 20 alcoholics with cirrhosis and 10 of the 40 nonalcoholic liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis reported a history of impotence. The association between impotence and alcohol abuse was significant. The impotence index developed by multiplying the frequency by the duration of impotency for each individual demonstrated a more severe degree of impotence in the alcoholics as compared to the nonalcoholics (p less than 0.01). The alcoholics also had lower plasma levels of testosterone and greater plasma levels of gonadotropins as compared to the nonalcoholics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Development of sexual behavior in prenatally ethanol-exposed rats

Female rats were given 16% ethanol solution as the sole liquid during the entire period of gestation. At birth the offspring was removed and reared by foster dams consuming normal drinking water. When tested for feminine sexual behavior in adulthood, the males showed marked signs of feminization as evidenced by an increased amount of lordosis responses. No changes were seen in the masculine sexual behavior. No deviations were seen in the female estrous cycles or in onset of vaginal estrus, whereas the onset of behavioral estrus was delayed. It is suggested that prenatal ethanol exposure may lower the fetal testosterone production and thereby interfere with the normal course of sexual differentiation in the male.

Immunohistochemical localization of alcohol dehydrogenase in human kidney, endocrine organs and brain

Antibodies against human liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were produced in rabbits. Peroxidase-labeled protein-A with diaminobenzidine as substrate was used to detect anti-ADH binding in human tissue thin sections. In the kidney, ADH was localized in the epithelia of the tubuli; glomeruli and collecting tubules appeared negative. In prostata and epididymis, the epithelia stained strongly. In the testes, the seminiferous epithelium and the Leydig cells stained higher in the cortex than in the medulla. In the pancreas, the Langerhans islets exhibited particularly high ADH concentrations. In the brain, ADH was localized in neurons of the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, infundibular stalk of the pituitary, and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. In summary, ADH could be localized primarily in cells known as targets of ethanol toxicity.

The effect of paternal alcohol consumption on fetal development in mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic paternal alcohol consumption on fetal growth and development in C3H mice. Male mice were pair-fed isocaloric liquid diets containing either 30%, 20%, or 0% ethanol-derived calories, or given free access to lab chow. After four weeks of treatment, all males were allowed to mate with untreated females. No differences were found between the litters of alcohol-treated males and controls in terms of the number of implantation sites, prenatal mortality, fetal weight, sex ratio, or frequency of soft tissue malformations. The results suggest that paternal alcohol consumption does not grossly alter fetal growth and development in C3H mice.