Gossypol acetic acid administered orally at 30 mg/kg body weight/day for five weeks inhibited the fertility of male rats without an apparent loss of libido. Sperm in the ejaculate were rendered immotile and were reduced in number. Serum testosterone and LH were reduced significantly from pretreatment values, whereas FSH values were not altered. Leydig cells from treated animals produced less testosterone than did control Leydig cells when incubated with LH. Furthermore, testosterone production by normal Leydig cells that were incubated with LH and gossypol was inversely related to gossypol concentration. Ultrastructural examination of epididymal spermatozoa revealed degeneration in the tail region, particularly in the mitochondrial sheath of the middle piece. Within the seminiferous epithelium, late spermatids displayed a similar degeneration, although not as severe. After a six-week recovery period, normal fertility was re-established and normal litters were produced. Sperm motility and number, serum testosterone and LH levels, and sperm structure all returned to normal.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.1939-4640.1981.tb00615.x

Effects of Gossypol on the Reproductive System of Male Rats

Antiproliferative activity of gossypol and gossypolone on human breast cancer cells

Gossypol (C 30 H 30 O 8 ) is a polyphenolic compound derived from the cotton plant (genus Gossypium , family Malvaceae). The presence of six phenolic hydroxyl groups and two aldehydic groups makes gossypol chemically reactive. Gossypol can undergo Schiff base formation, ozonolysis, oxidation, and methylation to form gossypol derivatives. Gossypol and its derivatives have been the target of much research due to their multifaceted biological activities including antifertility, antivirus, anticancer, antioxidant, antitrypanosomal, antimicrobial, and antimalarial activities. Because of restricted rotation of the internaphthyl bond, gossypol is a chiral compound, which has two atropisomers (i.e., (+)- and (−)-gossypol) that exhibit different levels of biological activities. This chapter covers the physiochemical properties, analyses, biological properties, and agricultural and clinical implications of gossypol.

Gossypol--a polyphenolic compound from cotton plant.

Lack of suitable diets for semi-intensive production of Oreochromis niloticus in Kenya has necessitated use of expensive diets designed for intensive production. To address this problem, two isonitrogenous (24% protein) diets were formulated and evaluated for production of O. niloticus in fertilized ponds. One diet contained vitamins and minerals premix (CV) while the other had no premix (CW). Growth of fish fed on the formulated feeds was compared with groups of fish fed on commercial pig pellets (PP) and wheat bran (WB). There were significant differences in mean weights, growth rates and feed conversion ratios between the formulated and the other diets. No significant differences in these parameters were observed between CV and CW and also between PP and WB. Fish that fed on the formulated feeds produced significantly lower number of juveniles than those fed on PP and WB. Fish fed on WB gave the best economic returns while those on PP had the least returns. Present results suggest that vitamins and minerals premix may not be necessary in diets for semi-intensive production of O. niloticus. Present results showed that the formulated feeds produced higher yields than PP and WB, but WB had the best economic returns among the test diets.

Growth and economic performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed on two formulated diets and two locally available feeds in fertilized ponds

Mark A. Hadley

Papers

Effects of Gossypol on the Reproductive System of Male Rats

Inhibition of rat epididymal sperm motility by gossypol