URSOLIC ACID GENERATES SYMPLASTS IN RAT SPERMATOGENIC CLONES

Treatment of ursolic acid to Wistar strain male albino rats resulted i n severe disruption of spermatogenesis. The most diagnostic change in the seminiferous epithelium was the opening up of the intercellular br idges between the male germ cell clones, resulting in the formation of symplasts. In this property, ursolic acid Is comparable to cytochalas in D. Symplasts are exfoliated from the Sertoli cell. The Leydig cells are hypertrophied. Cauda epididymidal sperm motility was impaired, an d several sperm exhibited abnormalities. Among the epididymal epitheli al cell types, the clear cells of the caput as well as the cauda appea red to be increased in abundance and were rounded-up. The results indi cate that from the male reproductive toxicological point of view, caut ion is required in using ursolic acid as a curative/protective agent. However, the testicular and epididymal effects of ursolic acid may be applied in male antifertility/contraception. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.