Effects of alcohol feeding on androgen receptors in the rat pituitary gland

Journal Article · Mon Oct 26 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Life Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(87)90483-8· OSTI ID:5898642

Chung, K W

Specific binding of testosterone-1..beta..,2..beta..-/sup 3/H by cytosol from anterior pituitary gland of ethanol-fed, isocaloric control, and castrated control and ethanol-fed rats with or without testosterone treatment has been investigated by charcoal assay. The number of androgen binding sites was significantly reduced in alcohol-fed rats when compared to the isocaloric control value, with no significant change in Kd. Castration significantly increased the number of receptor sites in control rats and when castrated control animals were treated with testosterone the binding sites were decreased to the intact control level. In contrast, castration or testosterone given to castrated alcohol-fed rats did not alter alcohol-induced reduction of the receptor sites. The binding affinity (Kd) is identical in all groups. The concentration of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was significantly lower in alcohol-fed rats when compared to that of normal controls. An increased serum LH level with a decreased testosterone level was noted in castrated control rats. However, castration of alcohol-fed rats had little or no effects on the concentrations of LH and testosterone. Administration of testosterone suppressed castration-induced high LH in control rats but alcohol induced reduction of LH level was not altered by this treatment. These findings indicate that alcohol exerts a suppressive effect on the content of androgen receptors and secretory functions of gonadotropins in the pituitary gland. 23 references, 1 figure, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City
• OSTI ID: 5898642
• Journal Information: Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 41:17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ETHANOL
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LH
BIOSYNTHESIS
TESTOSTERONE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
RECEPTORS
INHIBITION
PITUITARY GLAND
RATS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ALCOHOLS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
BODY
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
GONADOTROPINS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PROTEINS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
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