Kim I C, Waller D P, Marcelle G B, Cordell G A, Fong H H, Pirkle W H, Pilla L, Matlin S A
Contraception. 1984 Sep;30(3):253-9. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(84)90088-x.
The comparative in vitro spermicidal effects of (+)-gossypol, (-)-gossypol and (+/-)-gossypol were evaluated on the spermatozoa of human, monkey, rabbit, mouse, rat and hamster. The spermicidal effects of gossypol isomers were also compared with those of gossypolone, which is a proposed major metabolite of gossypol. Gossypol isomers and gossypolone were all spermicidal. (+)- and (-)-Gossypol demonstrated spermicidal activities at the same concentration at which (+/-)-gossypol shows spermicidal effects on the spermatozoa of all species tested. However, gossypolone was less potent than the gossypol isomers. The spermicidal action of gossypol may be a nonspecific effect unrelated to the antifertility mechanism of orally administered gossypol, since (+)-gossypol which is not an effective male antifertility agent also showed the equivalent spermicidal effect to that of (+/-)-gossypol.
