title: Gossypol promotes degeneration of ovarian follicles in rats.
abstract: The present study aimed to determine if gossypol interferes with ovarian follicles in rats. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were assigned to two equal groups: one control group and the other dosed with gossypol (25 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) for 15 days. Ovarian follicles were histologically classified according to the stage of development and as normal or atretic. Gossypol treatment reduced the length of estrous with an increase in the duration of the diestrus phase. This compound was responsible for reduced serum levels of T4 and progesterone. Treatment with gossypol was responsible for a significant reduction in the number of normal ovarian follicles and a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles, both in all stages of development. Thus, treatment of rats with gossypol was responsible for reduction in the number of viable follicles and changes in hormone levels that resulted in interference of the estrous cycle.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, BR 110 Km 47, 59628-360 Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivana Cristina Nunes
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gadelha
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, BR 110 Km 47, 59628-360 Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michelly Fernandes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Macedo
authors.affiliation: Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro 80, 30510-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia Catarina Salgado
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Oloris
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 30123-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilia Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. 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: D000818:Animals; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006072:Gossypol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D011374:Progesterone; D006072:Gossypol