HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATION OF THE GOSSYPOL EFFECT ON THE SUPRAOPTIC,PARAVENTRICULAR AND ARCUATE NUCLEI IN RAT HYPOTHALAMUS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

In order to analyze whether gossypol has an effect or what effect it has on the hypothalamus, the general structure and morphologic indicators reflecting the neurosecretory function of the neurons of hypothalamic supraoptic, paraventricular and arcuate nuclei were observed in adult male rats following gossypol administration (30 mg/kg/day ? 5 weeks, and 30 mg/kg/day ? 5weeks + 60 mg/kg/week ? 5weeks). Results showed that no marked change in the light-microscopic morphology of the neurosecretory cells of the above mentioned nuclei was found after gossypol treatment for 5 or 10 weeks; and that no significant change appeared in the neurosecretory activity of the three nuclei, according to nuclear volume, contents of Nissl bodies and neurosecretory materials, and activity of thiamine pyrophosphatase and acid phosphatase, merely the Nissl body content in paraventricular nucleus increased after feeding gossypol for 5 weeks. The data indicated that the effective antifertility dose of gossypol had no direct influence on the hypothalamus of adult male rats. It was possible that the temporary increace in the secretory activity of paraventricular nucleus reflected physiologically regulating response of the magnocellular neurosecretory system to some change in the internal milieu of organism caused by gossypol.