title: Gossypol toxicity from cottonseed products.
abstract: Gossypol is a phenolic compound produced by pigment glands in cotton stems, leaves, seeds, and flower buds (Gossypium spp.). Cottonseed meal is a by-product of cotton that is used for animal feeding because it is rich in oil and proteins. However, gossypol toxicity limits cottonseed use in animal feed. High concentrations of free gossypol may be responsible for acute clinical signs of gossypol poisoning which include respiratory distress, impaired body weight gain, anorexia, weakness, apathy, and death after several days. However, the most common toxic effects is the impairment of male and female reproduction. Another important toxic effect of gossypol is its interference with immune function, reducing an animal's resistance to infections and impairing the efficiency of vaccines. Preventive procedures to limit gossypol toxicity involve treatment of the cottonseed product to reduce the concentration of free gossypol with the most common treatment being exposure to heat. However, free gossypol can be released from the bound form during digestion. Agronomic selection has produced cotton varieties devoid of glands producing gossypol, but these varieties are not normally grown because they are less productive and are more vulnerable to attacks by insects.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, BR 110 Km 47, 59628-360 Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivana Cristina N
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gadelha
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, BR 110 Km 47, 59628-360 Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayanna Brunna S
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro 80, 30510-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Catarina S
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Oloris
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, 30123-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, 30123-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benito
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3861-1838
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soto-Blanco
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D003368:Gossypium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006072:Gossypol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006072:Gossypol