Reversible antispermatogenic effect of gossypol in langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus entellus)

The present investigation reports the antispermatogenic effect of the orally active highly purified gossypol acetic acid at 7.5 mg and 10 mg/day for 180 days in langur monkeys. The results revealed a dose-dependent response in semen analysis as well as testicular morphology. Uniform severe oligospermia was observed in the lower dose (7.5 mg) group, while azoospermia was observed in 2 out of 5 animals in the higher dose (10 mg) group and the remaining animals showed severe oligospermia. Scanning electron microscopy of spermatozoa revealed deleterious abnormalities in the head and midpiece. Testicular morphology revealed a decrease in the seminiferous tubule diameter and arrest of spermatogenesis. The lower dose group had a germ cell population up to primary spermatocytes while the higher dose group had only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. Withdrawal of treatment for 180 days led to the recovery of all the parameters studied, to normalcy.