The effects of gossypol on spermatogenesis and development of the eyefluke, Philophthalmus gralli, and its chicken host.
To determine the effects of gossypol, a male antifertility drug, on the eyefluke, P. gralli, this chemical was administered orally to chickens in long-term and short-term regimens. Gossypol acetic acid (GAA), fed to juvenile chickens from 1 to 35 days, caused a decreased weight gain when compared to controls on untreated feed. An FeSO4 supplement to the GAA-fed chickens provided partial protection from the toxic effects of GAA. Worms from GAA-fed chickens were significantly larger than controls, while those from chickens fed GAA + FeSO4 were intermediate in size. Sperm development in these worms was unaffected by GAA. In a second experiment, GAA was administered either in the feed of the hosts from days 35 to 70 or by capsule from days 63 to 77. Worms were exposed to [3H] thymidine, transplanted to the host's eyes, removed on a timed schedule, and processed for autoradiography to determine the rate of spermatogenesis in both GAA-feed and GAA-capsule groups. Early stages of spermatogenesis in both groups were unaffected by GAA and later stages developed at a slightly faster rate than reported for worms from chickens on untreated feed. Higher frequencies of testicular anomalies were observed in both groups including 3 testes, 1 testis, no testes, fused testes, degenerating testes, ovarian tissue in the testes, deformed sperm, and encapsulated sperm. Testes from chickens in both groups showed a significantly lower weight and no signs of spermatogenesis when compared to control chickens.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D006072:Gossypol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D014200:Trematoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C024823:ferric sulfate; D006072:Gossypol; C028178:gossypol acetic acid