Suppression of testicular androgen synthesis in the rat by ethane 1,2, dimethanesulphonate.

Within 1 day following administration of 75 mg/kg ethane 1,2-dimethanesulphonate (EDS) to male rats and for up to 7 weeks thereafter, the ability of testis tissue in an in vitro system to carry out the normal reaction sequence from pregnenolone to testosterone is drastically reduced, in a manner consistent with the nature and duration of the effects of EDS on male rat fertility. The transformation of cholesterol into pregnenolone and the further metabolism of testosterone are not detectably altered.