Effect of cottonseed oil on oestrous cycle and ovulation in albino rats of Wistar strain.
OBJECTIVE
The antispermatogenic and contraceptive importance of gossypol had been established in male animals, including man; in the present work, adult female Wistar rats weighing 110 - 160g were used to study the effect of cottonseed oil (gossypol) on oestrous cycle and ovulation.


METHODS
Forty-five cyclic female rats were sorted randomly into three experimental groups of fifteen animals each. Oral doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg/body weight were administered once a day at 0900 hr for a period of 15 days. Vaginal swab of animals were taken each day between 0700 hr- 0900 hr to study their oestrous cycle; at the end of each cycle (4-5 days), a batch of 5 animals was sacrificed in each group to evaluate the number of ova shed.


RESULTS
The results showed that gossypol had no disruptive effects on oestrous cycle; ovulation was not adversely affected, neither was there any significant reduction (p > 0.05) in the number of oocytes released.


CONCLUSIONS
Because gossypol did not alter the oestrous cycle and ovulation patterns in the study animals, we suggest that certain factors exist in female animals that abolish or limit gossypol toxicity; these were extensively discussed.
Akinola
O B
OB
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, P M B 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Oderinde
O O
OO
Adejumo
A T
AT
Bayode
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ED
D000818:Animals; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003369:Cottonseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003369:Cottonseed Oil