ABSTRACT
Gossypol [GP] known to be particularly toxic to heart and liver, is found in cottonseed meal which has the potential to increase the world's food supply. This experimental model to test the effect of gossypol trace on liver. Sixteen adult male rats were divided into two groups. A group of six animals was considered as a control and the remaining ten were grouped as experimental. Apart from the routine feeding regimens, each experimental animal was given raw cottonseed oil orally by intragastric tube once daily in a dose of 4 ml / rat / day for three successive weeks [gossypol concentration was 0.02 mg / ml]. At sacrifice, blood samples were collected for SGPT and SGOT. Paraffin sections of liver were prepared and stained with H and E, periodic acid Schiff reaction [PAS] and peroxidase antiperoxidase enzymatic immuno histochemical method [PAP]. Cryostat'sections were used to study succininc dehydrogenase activity [SDH]. SGPT and SGOT were significantly elevated by gossypol traces. Examination of treated livers revealed marked degeneration of hepatocytes allover the hepatic lobules. Mucopolysaccharide content was the same in control and treated liver. There was a decrease in succininc dehydrogenase reaction in experimental livers. Alphafetoprotein was positive in degenerated hepatocytes while it was negative in normal cells. From these findings, the cottonseed meals containing gossypol trace were strongly hepatotoxic agent