ANTISTEROIDAL AND ANTIGONADOTROPHIC EFFECTS OF GOSSYPOL ACETIC ACID IN RATS

Gossypol acetic acid exhibited an inhibitory effect on the uterotrophic action of estradiol in ovariectornized rats. It also inhibited the progesterone-induced deciduoma in castrated rats.Immature male rats were given hCG 5 I U with or without gossypol acetic acid 20-40 mg/kg daily for 10 days. The steroidogenic response of rat testis to hCG was reduced by gossypol acetic acid.Gossypol acetic acid exhibited a direct inhibitory effect on testosterone production by Leydig cells in vitro. The steroidogenic response of Leydig cells to hCG was also inhibited.