Journal of Andrology Email Content Delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by HADLEY, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by DYM, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by HADLEY, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by DYM, M.
Journal of Andrology, Vol 2, Issue 4 190-199, Copyright © 1981 by The American Society of Andrology

Effects of Gossypol on the Reproductive System of Male Rats

MARK A. HADLEY 1, YOUNG C. LIN 1, AND MARTIN DYM 1

1 Department of Anatomy, Laboratory of Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Gossypol acetic acid administered orally at 30 mg/kg body weight/day for five weeks inhibited the fertility of male rats without an apparent loss of libido. Sperm in the ejaculate were rendered immotile and were reduced in number. Serum testosterone and LH were reduced significantly from pretreatment values, whereas FSH values were not altered. Leydig cells from treated animals produced less testosterone than did control Leydig cells when incubated with LH. Furthermore, testosterone production by normal Leydig cells that were incubated with LH and gossypol was inversely related to gossypol concentration. Ultrastructural examination of epididymal spermatozoa revealed degeneration in the tail region, particularly in the mitochondrial sheath of the middle piece. Within the seminiferous epithelium, late spermatids displayed a similar degeneration, although not as severe. After a six-week recovery period, normal fertility was re-established and normal litters were produced. Sperm motility and number, serum testosterone and LH levels, and sperm structure all returned to normal.

     Key words: gossypol, fertility, male rat, testosterone, LH, FSH, sperm morphology, Leydig cell

Submitted on November 17, 1980
Revised on January 26, 1981
Accepted on February 3, 1981




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Toxicol PatholHome page
S. F. de Andrade, S. U. Oliva, G. R. Klinefelter, and W. De Grava Kempinas
Epididymis-Specific Pathologic Disorders in Rats Exposed to Gossypol from Weaning Through Puberty
Toxicol Pathol, October 1, 2006; 34(6): 730 - 737.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
G. E Olson, V. P Winfrey, K. E Hill, and R. F Burk
Sequential development of flagellar defects in spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa of selenium-deficient rats
Reproduction, March 1, 2004; 127(3): 335 - 342.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
K. Dabrowski, J. Rinchard, K-J. Lee, J.H. Blom, A. Ciereszko, and J. Ottobre
Effects of Diets Containing Gossypol on Reproductive Capacity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Biol Reprod, February 1, 2000; 62(2): 227 - 234.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1981 by The American Society of Andrology.