ULTRASTRUCTURAL OBSERVATION OF THE TOXIC EFFECT OF GOSSYPOL ON RATS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to examine the toxic effect of gossypol on the heart, liver, kidney,adrenal and testis of the Wistar rats with the electron microscope. Gossypol was administered orally at a daily dose of 30mg/kg body weight for 1-3 weeks, the tissues were secured at various time intervals and prepared for observation. It was shown that no significant ultrastructural changes could be observed in the heart muscle, kidney, and adrenal of animals fed on gossypol at the dosage that had damaged to testis. The latter demonstrated obvious degenerative changes in spermatids and spermatocytes 3 weeks following treatment and appeared to be more sensitive to the effect of gossypol poisoning. Gossypol induced distension of the endoplasmic reticulum and caused an increases in amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum as well as lysosomes of the hepatic cells. Other subtle ultrastructural changes in the hepatic cells including the decrease of glycogen granules, displacement of ribosomes from rough endoplasmic reticulum and the distension of canaliculi biliferi were also discernible. Based on the above results, the toxic efficacy of gossypol was analysed and discussed.