Acetaldehyde acutely impairs canine testicular testosterone secretion

Utilizing a method for perfusion of the in vivo isolated canine testis we have examined basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone production of testes acutely exposed to ethanol and acetaldehyde. Ethanol infused at concentrations of 0.2 g/dl to 0.6 g/dl did not alter basal or hCG-stimulated testicular testosterone production of one testis when compared to the saline-infused control testis of the same animal. However, acetaldehyde infused at a concentration of 0.2 mg/dl, a level similar to that found in humans drinking moderate amounts of ethanol, significantly impaired hCG-stimulated testicular testosterone production. It is concluded that acetaldehyde acutely impairs hCG-stimulated testicular testosterone secretion by a direct effect on the testis, but ethanol does not.