ABSTRACT
Gossypol, a component of the cottonseed, has anti-fertility effects. The present study was planned to determine whether diets containing whole cottonseed flour could produce morphological changes in the rat testes similar to pure gossypol. Sixteen animals were randomly divided into two groups, Control [C] and Test [T] groups. Each group comprised of 08 animals. Control group received standard diet, while test group received 70% standard diet and 30% cottonseed flour. A significant decrease in body weight, testicular weight and diet consumption was seen in the test group. Histological sections were stained in serial order by three different stains, H and E, PAS and Masson's Trichrome. Microscopic examination revealed significant increase in luminal diameter [P<0.0001] and decrease in wall thickness of seminiferous tubules [P<0.0007] of test group. Cell count per tubule was significantly decreased in test group [P<0.002]. Degenerative changes in the epithelium were seen in 78.8% and degenerative cells in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules in 41.23% of tubules were observed in test group. Sertoli and leydig cell counts were not different from those of control. No disruption of basement membrane was observed. Pigment laden cells in the interstitial tissue were observed in the test group. The observed morphological changes induced by cottonseed flour suggest that cottonseed flour, by virtue of its contents of the compound gossypol is equally toxic to rat testes like pure extract of gossypol