title: Electrolyte composition of rete testis fluid and cauda epididymal plasma and spermatozoa from rats following gossypol treatment.
abstract: This investigation was undertaken to study the potassium and sodium concentrations in rete testis fluid and cauda epididymal plasma and spermatozoa following gossypol treatment. Rats were treated orally with gossypol acetic acid at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day for 3 and 6 weeks respectively. There were not abnormal findings in the ionic concentrations of cauda epididymal plasma following 3 or 6-week-treatment. After 6 but not 3 weeks the spermatozoa in the cauda epididymidis were rendered almost completely immotile and malformed with a significant reduction in their potassium concentration and rise in their sodium concentration. No abnormal findings in the morphological picture of the germinal epithelium were observed under such circumstances and fluid and sperm from the rete testis were normal. Therefore, a direct action of gossypol may be exerted locally on the spermatozoa in the epididymis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006072:Gossypol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D006072:Gossypol