Gossypol affects the responsiveness of isolated rat myometrium and vas deferens

The effects of gossypol on responsiveness of both rat myometrium and vas deferens were analyzed. In myometrial strips, gossypol (1-30 microM) produced rightward displacements of the cumulative concentration-response curves to acetylcholine, bradykinin and oxytocin, accompanied by reductions in maximal responses. Gossypol (30 microM) also completely abolished the contractions induced by field stimulation of the rat vas deferens. The IC50 values for gossypol against agonist-induced myometrial contractions and field-stimulated vas deferens contractions were similar, ranging between 13 and 18 microM. These results provide additional evidence that gossypol exerts a direct and irreversible inhibition of the contractility of both male and female reproductive organs.