PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF GONADAL ALCOHOL AND ALDEHYDE-DEHYDROGENASE

1. A brief overview of gonadal alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyd e-dehydrogenase (ALDH) is presented and their relationships to gonadal toxicity of ethanol has been discussed. 2. The distributions of ADH a nd ALDH among major reproductive tissues of rodents, their subcellular localization and kinetic properties were summarized. 3. The sensitivi ty of testicular ADH and ALDH to ethanol intake, various psychoactive agents and steroidal compounds was assessed and the implication of the se enzymes in gonadal ethanol-drug interaction has been suggested. 4. The possible role of testicular ALDH in tumorigenesis and in high alti tude endocrine sensitivity to ethanol has been addressed.