title: Evaluation of the antifertility activity of the broom Spartium junceum in the mammalian male.
abstract: Male adult rabbits and rats treated with Spartium junceum showed a significant decrease in fertility, demonstrated by a lower number of pregnancies. The target of the drug seems to be the acrosomal protease system, the activity of which appears greatly reduced, while the morphology of testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa is only partially affected. The antifertility effect is completely reversible.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Biologia Generale, CNR, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baccetti
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Burrini
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collodel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giachetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Menesini-Chen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sensini
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011480:Protease Inhibitors