GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF GOSSYPOL ACETATE ON THE OVARY OF RHINOPOMA-KINNEARI WROUGHTON (MICROCHIROPTERA, MAMMALIA)

Female Rhinopoma kinneari, a microchiropteran bat (body weight Ca 15.0 gm to 20.0 gm), was used as a model to evaluate the effect of a singl e oral dose of 10 mg of gossypol acetate on the ovarian histology at d ay 2, 4, 6 and 8, respectively. Maximal damage to these organs was see n on day 2. The test drug induced widespread disturbance in the ovaria n histoarchitecrure as evidenced by an extensive degeneration of folli cle types. Degenerative changes were marked by pyonosis, chromatolysis of nuclei, desquamation of granulosa cells and their subsequent disso lution. Intensity of protein staining was increased with time, indicat ing marked damage to ovarian constituents. It is suggested that gossyp ol may cause antifolliculogenic activity.