The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two sublethal doses (4 and 20 mg/kg live weight (LW); every other day) of gossypol on semen and hormonal characteristics of male rabbits. The experiment lasted 16 weeks and included two periods: a treatment period (first 8 weeks) where the animals were given the test materials, and a recovery period (second 8 weeks) where drugs were withdrawn. Results showed that LW and respiration rate (RR) decreased ( P , 0·05) among animals that received gossypol, while rectal temperature increased ( P , 0·05). Animals in gossypol treatment groups had decreased ( P , 0·05) blood plasma levels of tri-iodothyronine (T 3 ) and testosterone. This was accompanied by reductions ( P , 0·05) in sperm concentration, total sperm output, percentage incidence of forward motility, total functional sperm fraction and semen initial fructose concentration. Gossypol however increased ( P , 0·05) reaction time (i.e. decreased libido), percentages of dead sperm and abnormal sperm (AbSp) and altered acrosomes. Estimated weights of testes and semen ejaculate volume increased ( P , 0·05) possibly due to increased water retention. Values of LW, RR, AbSp, and blood plasma T 3 and testosterone returned to control levels after withdrawal of gossypol, while the effect of this drug on other parameters continued during the recovery period.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of gossypol and the possible counteracting effect of selenium supplementation in rams. Twenty-five mature crossbred (Barki × Rahamni) rams were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. The first group served as a control (no gossypol in diet). The second and third groups received diets containing free gossypol of 9 and 14 mg·kg(-1) BW·d(-1)(low level and high level of gossypol), respectively. The fourth and fifth groups received the same diets given to the second and third groups, respectively, with an oral administration of 1 mg selenium (as sodium selenite) daily for each animal. Results showed reductions in ejaculate volume (P = 0.028), percentage of dead sperm (P = 0.003), total functional sperm fraction (P < 0.001), and blood serum concentration of testosterone (P < 0.001) in the presence of both levels of gossypol inclusion. Furthermore, high level of gossypol reduced forward motility (P < 0.001) and semen initial fructose concentration (P = 0.002) and increased abnormal-head sperm (P = 0.003) and blood serum concentration of triiodothyronine (P = 0.006). Regardless of selenium supplementation, increasing level of free gossypol in diet resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of forward motility (P = 0.037) and significant increases in the mean values of sperm concentration (P < 0.001), total sperm output (P = 0.002), percentage of total abnormal sperm (P = 0.058), and abnormal-head sperm (P = 0.016). On the other hand, regardless of levels of gossypol inclusion, selenium supplementation resulted in significant increases in libido (P < 0.001), mean values of ejaculate volume (P < 0.001), percentage of forward motility (P = 0.019), total sperm output (P < 0.001), total functional sperm fraction (P < 0.001), semen initial fructose concentration (P = 0.031), and blood serum concentrations of both testosterone and triiodothyronine (P < 0.001). In conclusion, free gossypol in diet induced adverse effects on semen quality in rams, but selenium supplementation successfully counteracts most of the hazardous effects of gossypol on semen characteristics.
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