Akingbemi B T, Aire T A, Oke B O
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Int J Androl. 1996 Jun;19(3):179-89. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1996.tb00459.x.
Reproductive parameters were investigated in gossypol-treated male rats that had been infected experimentally with Trypanosoma brucei and then place on one of two diets of differing (low and normal) protein content. The endpoints assessed were reproductive organ weights, semen epididymal sperm counts, serum testosterone and histological, stereological and histomorphometric evaluation of the testis and accessory reproductive organs. Most of the parameters studied were lowest in the protein-malnourished, gossypol-treated, trypanosome-infected animals, when compared to those obtained from the corresponding animals that were only gossypol-treated or trypanosome-infected. Mean testicular size and the diameter and the total length of seminiferous tubules were especially reduced, indicating that the overall volume of the seminiferous epithelium in these animals was smaller. These findings suggest that reproductive capacity could be impaired in protein-malnourished, trypanosome-infected animals fed on gossypol-containing products, even when there are no obvious clinical signs of disease. This could translate into increased production costs in a farm enterprise. Screening for haemoparasitism would also seem to be worthwhile prior to evaluation and/or use of gossypol (or perhaps other potential contraceptives) in human subjects, especially in communities that are confronted with severe food shortages.
对用棉酚处理过的雄性大鼠的生殖参数进行了研究，这些大鼠已通过实验感染了布氏锥虫，然后被置于两种蛋白质含量不同（低和正常）的饮食之一中。评估的终点指标包括生殖器官重量、附睾精液精子计数、血清睾酮以及睾丸和附属生殖器官的组织学、体视学和组织形态计量学评估。与仅接受棉酚处理或感染锥虫的相应动物相比，在蛋白质营养不良、接受棉酚处理且感染锥虫的动物中，大多数研究参数最低。平均睾丸大小以及曲细精管的直径和总长度尤其减小，表明这些动物曲细精管上皮的总体积较小。这些发现表明，食用含棉酚产品的蛋白质营养不良且感染锥虫的动物的生殖能力可能受损，即使没有明显的疾病临床症状。这可能会导致农场企业生产成本增加。在对人类受试者进行棉酚（或其他潜在避孕药）评估和/或使用之前，尤其是在面临严重食物短缺的社区，筛查血液寄生虫感染似乎也是值得的。
