Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

“In this study, we demonstrated that the stimulation of hCG production correlates with the ethanol concentration.”

“Therefore, ethanol treatment appears to induce increased hCG production, secondary to enhanced basal or stimulated cAMP production.”

“These data suggest that ethanol treatment increases in vitro hCG production in human placental trophoblasts by enhancing cAMP production.”

“The magnitude of the T response to hCG injection was significantly lower after ethanol ingestion but still significantly higher than the corresponding one obtainable in chronic alcoholics.”

“These results demonstrate that short-term ingestion of 200 g ethanol daily can lead to altered testicular response to hCG in normal adult males and corroborate the view that ethanol is a gonadal toxin.”

“Equilibrium binding studies involving [125I]hCG interaction with luteal membranes in the presence of the concentration of ethanol showing maximal hCG responsiveness indicated that ethanol slightly affected (15% increase) the hCG binding compared to controls, without any appreciable change on the Kd for the hormone.”

“ Ethanol up to a concentration of 5% (v/v) was without effect on basal luteal adenylyl cyclase activity, but markedly potentiated stimulation of NaF and hCG in a dose-dependent manner.”

“These data … of ethanol inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase … of NaF and of hCG , and that the synergistic interaction of ethanol and gonadotropin stimulation of adenylyl cyclase is, at least in part, … in the functional coupling of the occupied hCG-receptor complex with the components of the enzyme system.”

“However, the icv administration of IL-1beta, EtOH , or CRF, in doses that rapidly inhibit the T response to hCG , all caused a significant depletion of NE from the LC.”

“model, the T response to hCG was blunted for 12 hours following alcohol injection , but showed a rebound at 48 hours.”

“The ig injection of alcohol , which in contrast induced significant increases in blood alcohol levels, also significantly interfered with the ability of hCG to induce T release.”

“Collectively, our results … (1) alcohol induces a rapid and profound decrease in plasma … that is secondary to decreased testicular responsiveness to hCG ; and (2) at least part of this acute inhibitory action of alcohol may depend … activation of a neural, adrenergic-dependent pathway between the brain and the testes.”

“…,ethanol had no effect on the affinity of the LH/… but did cause an increase in the ED50 of hCG for inducing desensitization from 0.25 to 0.75 nM. Interestingly, ethanol decreased the apparent … sites by 55%, yet the control hCG-sensitive adenylyl cyclase activity was not reduced.”

“2) Non-fertilized eggs first bisected, and the resulting sister halves activated 17 h after administration of hCG with ethyl alcohol. (”

“Ethanol, alone, enhanced hCG and LH stimulation of adenylyl cyclase up to a concentration of 5% ethanol, while higher concentrations of ethanol inhibited hCG and LH stimulation of ovarian adenylyl cyclase.”