Effect of long term gossypol treatment on human testicular structure
Tung, D.S.; Zhang, G.H.; Xiang, S.C.; Zhang, G.Y.; Tsong, S.D.
Advances in Contraceptive Delivery Systems Cds 3(1): 47-50
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 1012-8689 PMID: 12314751 Document Number: 7520
16 male volunteers, ages 30-45 years, were treated with gossypol for 6-8 years, with the total amount of drug taken between 13.6-18.28 gm. Their wives never became pregnant during the treatment period. All of the volunteers except 1 are still taking 40 mg of gossypol acetic acid each week for the maintenance of infertility. Gossypol, derived from cottonseed, suppresses spermatogenesis, prevents sperm maturation, and inhibits sperm motility. In 1 case out of 5 tested, the testis completely lacked germ cells, some spermatocytes remained in 3, and 1 still had all types of germ cell intact although the number was reduced from that found in normal seminiferous tubules. These tubules we severly degenerated and their volume decreased to less than 1/2 of what is considered normal. The basic lamina of the tubules thickened and protruded into the epithelium. Sertoli cells were highly vasculolized, degenerated, and exfoliated into lumen. In some cases, the tubules became fibrotic. In the cytoplasm of the Sertoli cells, there were vacuoles of different sizes which were surrounded by or fused with lysosomes. Leydig cells changed in both number and size. It would appear that gossypol acts prior to or in conjunction with the incorporation of selenium into mitochondrial selenoprotein and that longterm treatment with gossypol affects not only the germ cells but the Sertoli and Leydig cells as well.
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