Sperm Malformed Ultrastructure in Gossypol-treated Rabbits

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a sublethal dose of gossypol (20 mg/kg BW, every other day) on sperm malformed ultrastructure of male rabbits. The experiment lasted 8 weeks. Gossypol administration exhibited: severe deteriorations in the head, connecting piece and midpiece of the sperm; significant increases in the malformed acrosomes; dramatic destructions expressed as degeneration of cytoplasmic membrane and disappearance of some segmented columns; and significant increases in the incidence of cytoplasmic droplets. Other striking defects were also observed in the midpiece, especially disappearance of the cytoplasmic membrane, extensive vacuolation, loss of cristae and interruption in the continuity of the mitochondria along the length of the midpiece, as well as complete disappearance of some of outer dense fibers and of the nine-fiber doublets. In conclusion, gossypol treatment induced reproductive toxicity which alters the sperm morphogenesis and producing serious and deleterious malformed sperm ultrastructures.