Influence of sex hormonal status on alcohol-induced oxidative injury in male and female rat liver

Background: Oxidative stress contributes to the development of liver injury after chronic alcohol intake. Women exhibit greater sensitivity to alcohol -induced liver disease than do men. The aim of the study was to determine t he relationship between the sex hormone status of male and female rats and the degree of alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the liver. Methods: Male and female rats were pair-fed a liquid diet that contained 36 % of their total daily calories as ethanol (EtOH group) or maltose (control group). Blood and liver samples were collected at the end of 8 weeks of di et. Results: Male EtOH rats experienced a reduction in plasma testosterone (T) and an increase in estradiol (E-2) levels, with an increase in their calcul ated E-2/T ratio with respect to their controls. Malonaldehyde (MDA) levels , an index of lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl content, an index of protein oxidation, in the liver were greater among the EtOH groups in fema les than in males. In males, an inverse correlation was found between hepat ic MDA and circulating T levels, and a direct correlation was disclosed bet ween MDA and estradiol levels. In addition, the hepatic histopathological s core correlated inversely with the plasma T levels and directly with the ca lculated E-2/T ratio, an index of feminization. Conclusions: Alcohol-induced oxidative injury, which contributes to hepatic injury in both male and female rats, is enhanced in females compared with males. A role for plasma T levels in protecting male rat liver from ethanol -induced oxidative injury can be hypothesized.