Variations of gossypol susceptibility in rat spermatozoa during spermatogenesis.
Sperm collected at two epididymal regions from various rat groups force-fed with gossypol were assayed for their ATP levels and motilities to examine their response to the antifertility effect of gossypol, a yellowish polyphenolic pigment from cottonseed oil. Rats receiving gossypol administration for 2 weeks began to show a proportional decrease in spermatozoal ATP content and motility and this antifertility effect deepened with time. Recovery from the gossypol-induced ATP decrease also developed at 2 weeks after the removal of gossypol administration. This rapid development of both the inhibitory and the recovery effects in a normal 53-day spermatogenic process might have stemmed from a change of susceptibility to gossypol inhibition during spermatogenesis. A model showing a more susceptible middle stage in spermatogenesis is proposed.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D006072:Gossypol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006072:Gossypol