ABSTRACT
Gossypol is considered as the major toxic ingredient in the cotton plant which affects the male fertility in countries where crude cottonseed oil is used extensively for cooking as in Egypt. In rural areas in Egypt, there is a common association between schistosomal infecion that can affect the male genital organs and gossypol intake through increased consumption of cottonseed oil. Whether this synergism plays a role in enhancing male inferility or not, is a matter that needs evaluation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of gossypol as one of food pollutants and schistosomiasis mansoni on the male reproductive organs in experimental animal. One hundred and thirty laboratories bred, parasite free, male Swiss albino mice were used in the current study. Mice were classified into 4 groups: Group [I]: consisted of 40 mice which remained none infected but received gossypol orally for 4 weeks. Group [II]: consisted of 40 mice which were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and did not receive gossypol. Group [III]: consisted of 40 mice which were infected and received gossypol orally for 4 weeks staring from the 8th week post Schistosoma infection. Group [IV]: consisted of 10 mice which were none infected and did not receive gossypol. Mice were sacrificed at different durations after gossypol intake and post infection whereas control mice were sacrificed at one lime. The tesis and the epididymis were removed from each animal and their weights were recorded. They were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinalion as well as electron microscopical examinalion. There were histopathological changes in tesicular sections of group [I] starting from the 2nd week after gossypol intake which became marked later on with depletion of germ cells and spermatozoa in testis and cauda epididymis. Regarding group [II], the pathological changes were rather mild. In group [III], the pathological changes appeared at the 10 week p.i. as spermatogenesis was arrested with a marked reduction in the number of mature spermatozoa. Some seminiferous tubules showed degenerative changes of the germinal epithelium, such as vacuolization, disrupion, and even severe destruction. In both S. mansoni infected groups [Gp. II and III], neither ova nor granulomata were detected in all examined histopathological secions while the immunohistochemical staining showed posilive deposilion of S. mansoni anigen in the testes and epididymes. In addilion, electron microscopical examination showed similar results at the ultrastructural level. Although schistosomiasis mansoni can affect male organs by antigen deposition, it's not a major cause for male infertility, while gossypol is a major culprit where cottonseed oil is used. Acing together, these two culprits exert a synergistic effect on male fertility. Therefore, gossypol should be handled more cautiously. In addition, using crude gossypol for male contracepion in Egypt is not recommended, because its synergism with schistosomiasis may render its effect irreversible