[Effect of (+), (-) and (+/-) gossypol on early pregnancy in rats]

Treatment of rats with (+/-) gossypol 80 mg.kg-1 or (-) gossypol 40 mg.kg-1 on day 6-9 of gestation terminated early pregnancy. However, (+) gossypol at the dosage of 40 mg.kg-1 was found to have no effect on gestation. (-) Gossypol at a concentration of 30 micrograms.ml-1 showed an inhibitory effect on progesterone production and (+) gossypol at 10 micrograms.ml-1 caused an increase of progesterone secretion by luteal cells in vitro. A marked increase of progesterone level in granulosa cells was elicited by hCG. The steroidogenic response of granulosa cells to hCG was inhibited by (+/-) gossypol at 10 and 30 micrograms.ml-1.