The Effects of Gossypol on Spermatogenesis in Nmri Mice

Infertility is a relatively common problem among couples, and Gossypol, a yellowish pigment detected in cottonseed, is one cause. Adult NMRI mice (25-35 gr) were used in this study. The animals were kept in standard conditions with a dark and light cycle of 12:12, controlled humidity and temperature, food and water were available adlibitium. Gossypol was dissolved in ethanol and diluted by sunflower oil as a vehicle (0.5: 4.5), and were used orally (13.425 mg/kg per day) for 15 days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment. The factors compared among these groups were testis and epididymis length and weight, sperm length and count and also histological differences. Statistical analysis by One Way ANOVA revealed that: Gossypol causes a 69.33% & 67.22% decrease in the sperm number compared to control & sham groups, respectively. It also causes a 29.63% decrease in the epididymal weight, and changes in the histological structure of the testis. In conclusion, although gossypol may be a good antifertility agent, it should be handled more cautiously. Furthermore, the usage of cottonseed oil in snacks should be limited and those field/factorymen who have contact with cotton should be more careful.