Reproductive toxicologic effects of gossypol on male rabbits: biochemical, enzymatic, and electrolytic properties of seminal plasma

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of two sublethal doses of gossypol on biochemical, enzymatic, and electrolytic properties of male rabbit seminal plasma.DesignRetrospective study.SettingA university-affiliated laboratory.Animal(s)Fifteen adult male New Zealand white rabbits.Intervention(s)Two sublethal doses of gossypol (4 and 20 mg per kilogram of body weight, every other day) were given orally.Main Outcome Measure(s)Biochemical, enzymatic, and electrolytic properties of male rabbit seminal plasma.Result(s)Seminal plasma total protein and albumin were statistically significantly increased by treatment with gossypol. Total lipids concentration was statistically significantly decreased by treatment with both doses of gossypol, whereas cholesterol was statistically significantly decreased by treatment with the low gossypol dose. Seminal plasma lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activities were statistically significantly decreased by treatment with the low dose of gossypol, whereas activities of these enzymes as well as of aspartate aminotransferase were statistically significantly increased by treatment with the high dose. Treatment with the high dose of gossypol statistically significantly reduced K+ concentration in the seminal plasma, whereas it statistically significantly increased Na+ and the Na+-K+ ratio.Conclusion(s)Seminal plasma values of total protein, total lipids, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and Na+ concentration returned to control levels after withdrawal of gossypol, whereas the effect of this drug on other parameters continued during the recovery period.