Abstract

Light and electron microscope studies of the effects of gossypol acetic acid, a phenolic compound isolated from cotton plants, on epididymal tissue in DBA/2J mice were undertaken since the information on the effects of the compound on the male reproductive tract in mice is limited. The agent, mixed in olive oil, was administered orally to four groups of mice and upon the sacrifice, the epididymal tissues were dissected and prepared for light and electron microscopy. Administration of the drug substantially reduced sperm motility and viable sperm counts and induced anomalies in sperm heads, sperm parts, and mitochondrial structures. Numerous vesicular structures containing granules and concentric membranous bodies in the principal and light cells, dilation of the Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum, and a cumulation of lysosomal bodies were found in epididymal cells. The severity and frequency of the ultrastructural changes increased with the dose and duration of the treatments.