Role of the pituitary and the adrenals in mediating the effects of alcohol on testicular steroidogenesis in mice.

We have previously demonstrated that intragastric administration of alcohol (1.24 g/kg body wt) to adult male mice results in suppression of testosterone production. We now report that the decline in peripheral testosterone levels in alcohol-treated mice is not accompanied by changes in plasma levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone or estradiol-17 beta, and that it is markedly attenuated in adrenalectomized or adrenalectomized-corticosterone treated males.