Effects of ethanol ingestion on sperm monosaccharides and fertility

Chronic alcohol abuse is often associated with reproductive disorders. Sper m monosaccharides play an indispensable role in sperm-egg interactions and fertilization Ethanol (3 g/kg body weight as 25%, v/v) was given by gastric intubation twice daily for 30 days while in another group, rats which had been treated with ethanol were withdrawn from treatment for a further perio d of 30 days, in order to assess the reversibility of the ethanol- induced effects. Epididymal ethanol content, sperm monosaccharides and the fertilit y of ethanol treated and ethanol withdrawn rats were assessed. Ethanol inge stion caused a significant decrease in sperm monosaccharides suggesting def ective glycosylation of sperm surface proteins. Sperm monosaccharides and f ertility were returned to normal following the withdrawal of ethanol. Ethan ol-induced changes in sperm monosaccharides may be one of the reasons for t he reduced fertility of ethanol treated rats.