Molecular Approach of Gossypol–induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rabbits. Electrophoretic Pattern of Seminal Plasma Proteins

Mammalian seminal plasma contains many distinct components which are important for spermatozoal function and survival. Recent studies clearly indicated that gossypol has pronounced hazardous effects on seminal characteristics and seminal plasma constituents in male rabbits, which may lead to deleterious productive and reproductive performance. We examined the possible deleterious effects of two sublethal doses (4 and 20 mg/kg of body weight; every other day) of gossypol on the electrophoretic pattern of rabbit seminal plasma proteins. The experiment lasted 16 wks and included two periods: a treatment period (first 8 wks) where the animals were given the tested materials, and a recovery period (second 8 wks) where drugs were withdrawn. A total of twenty two bands were identified ranging from a high 200.0 kDa protein down to a low 11.0 kDa protein. Denistometric analysis of the stained gel patterns indicated that gossypol treatment revealed significant increases in the content of bands having 66.0, 31.0 and 23.0 kDa, while the two bands having 70.0 and 11.0 kDa were found to decrease in its content. Gossypol treatment also caused considerable decreases in the three major bands (33.0, 21.5 and 13.0 kDa), and the highest decrease was in the 33.0 kDa band. Gossypol seems to increase the content of some seminal plasma peptide bands associated with increasing acrosome alterations, dead and abnormal sperm and destabilization of sperm structure. However, other peptide bands related to reduction of sperm capacitation and sperm membrane integrity were reduced.