Effect of dietary free gossypol on blood components and tissue iron in swine and rats
Skutches, C.L.; Herman, D.L.; Smith, F.H.
Journal of Nutrition 104(4): 415-422
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 4816926 Document Number: 71204
For 43 days 14 pigs weighing about 26 kg were given to appetite a diet containing 15% protein without or with 0.06% free gossypol. In pigs on gossypol Hb value and haematocrit were reduced by 9.2 and 7.5%, respectively; the reductions occurred before the pigs showed signs associated with gossypol activity. Serum Fe-binding capacity and total serum protein were reduced by about 20%; liver Fe was less than that in normal pigs. It is suggested that gossypol may have formed a complex with Fe in the liver and the complex was secreted from the liver by the bile causing a fall in liver Fe. In the second experiment in a 2 X 2 factorial design 28 Wistar rats weighing 63 g were given a basal diet containing 20% protein without or with 70 mg Fe/kg and without or with 500 mg free gossypol/kg. In those given gossypol Hb value and haematocrit were reduced. There was an interaction between Fe and gossypol which reduced Fe concentration in the liver. The ratio of free to bound gossypol deposited in the liver depended on the Fe concentration in the liver.