Gossypol and testicular lipids of adult rats.

Testicular lipids act as source of energy, structural components of spermatozoa and precursors of androgen biosynthesis. Treatment with antispermatogeneic agents cause accumulation of testicular lipids. Gossypol, an effective antispermatogenic agent causes marked accumulation of testicular neutral lipids. It did not affect testicular phospholipids. Gossypol treatment did not bring about marked changes in the key enzymes like HMG Co A reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase malic enzyme and cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase involved in sterol biosynthesis. Thus, gossypol brings about marked accumulation of glycerides and esterified cholesterol in the testis due to its effect on spermatogenic elements of adult rats.