title: Comparative in vitro spermicidal effects of (+/-)-gossypol, (+)-gossypol, (-)-gossypol and gossypolone.
abstract: The comparative in vitro spermicidal effects of (+)-gossypol, (-)-gossypol and (+/-)-gossypol were evaluated on the spermatozoa of human, monkey, rabbit, mouse, rat and hamster. The spermicidal effects of gossypol isomers were also compared with those of gossypolone, which is a proposed major metabolite of gossypol. Gossypol isomers and gossypolone were all spermicidal. (+)- and (-)-Gossypol demonstrated spermicidal activities at the same concentration at which (+/-)-gossypol shows spermicidal effects on the spermatozoa of all species tested. However, gossypolone was less potent than the gossypol isomers. The spermicidal action of gossypol may be a nonspecific effect unrelated to the antifertility mechanism of orally administered gossypol, since (+)-gossypol which is not an effective male antifertility agent also showed the equivalent spermicidal effect to that of (+/-)-gossypol.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D006072:Gossypol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; C043259:gossypolone; D006072:Gossypol