Effects of Ethanol Consumption on the Morphology of the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium

Abstract

The effects of ethanol consumption on the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium, with particular emphasis on Sertoli cell ultrastructure, were examined during and following pubertal development. Sprague‐Dawley rats were maintained on chronically high levels of ethanol for 7 weeks beginning at 29 days of age. Animals in Group 1 were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% ethanol‐derived calories) ad libitum. Group 2 animals were paired with animals in Group 1 and fed a liquid control diet in the amount consumed by their ethanol partners (g/kg body wt/day). Animals in Group 3 were fed Purina rodent chow ad libitum. Blood samples were collected at 60 days for determination of plasma testosterone levels. On day 79, each epididymis, the adrenals and the right testis were removed from anesthetized animals and weighed; the left testis was removed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Blood alcohol levels were consistently high throughout the feeding period, averaging 272.6 ± 9.7 mg/100 ml at 1900 hours (1 hour after lights off) and 178.8 ± 20.8 mg/100 ml at 1330 hours. Testosterone levels were lower in ethanol‐consuming animals than in pair‐fed or control subjects. Testis weight was also somewhat reduced in ethanol‐consuming animals; however, when adjusted for body weight, relative testis weights were found to be increased in ethanol and pair‐fed animals. Epididymal weights were reduced in both ethanol and pair‐fed animals. Relative adrenal weights were increased by ethanol. The most dramatic effect of ethanol consumption was on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules. Although intercellular junctions appeared intact in all groups, there was a dramatic increase in lipid at the base of Sertoli cells in alcohol‐fed animals. Lipid was also observed in spermatogenic cells. Pair‐fed animals were similar to controls. Lipid accumulation may be indicative of ethanol‐induced damage to Sertoli cells and/or the associated germ cells. 1988 American Society of Andrology