The relationship between NO and gossypol in decreasing sperm quality in male rats / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To elucidate the biochemical mechanism of gossypol in inducing the decline of sperm quality.Methods Gossypol was administered orally at the dose of 50 mg?kg-1/2 d for two weeks.Then,the sperm was collected from the left caudal epididymis and was analysed by CASA.The morphological changeand the concentration of nitric oxide(NO)in testes as well as the level of hormone〔follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)〕,luteotrophic hormone(LH),testosterone(T)in serum were assayed.Results Gossypol could induce the decrease of sperm number and sperm quality.The concentration of NO in testes increased significantly.Among the three kind of hormone,only the concentration of T showed decrease after the oral administration of gossypol.NA1108 could antagonize the decline of sperm quality damaged by gossypol and decrease the content of NO in testes.Conclusions The concentration of NO in testes beyond normal value was one of the toxic mechanism of gossypol that contributed to the inhibition of spermatogenesis.Some drugs with the ability to reduce NO content in testes could also increase sperm quality.