ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTIFERTILITY EFFECT OF PHASEOLINONE, AN ANTILEISHMANIAL AGENT, IN MALE RATS

Phaseolinone, an epoxy compound isolated from the culture broth of the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, is reported to possess antileishmania l activity in vitro. The present study was designed to investigate the antifertility efficacy of phaseolinone in male rats. An aqueous solut ion of phaseolinone, when administered to male rats of proven fertilit y for 2-8 consecutive weeks followed by mating exposure to females of proven fertility, significantly reduced functional fertility in a time -dependent and dose-dependent manner. There was a significant reductio n in epididymal sperm count and sperm motility. Quantification of germ cells of seminiferous epithelium revealed a reduction in the number o f different germ cells at stage VII of the cycle of the seminiferous t ubules. This was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in the levels o f the luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones and tes tosterone as well as of testicular alkaline phosphatase and epididymal glyceryl phosphorylcholine. The decrease in hormone levels correspond ed to an increase in the level of testicular cholesterol. These result s indicate that phaseolinone, possibly by: Virtue of being an inhibito r of RNA polymerase and hence of protein synthesis, suppresses spermat ogenesis and also affects epididymal sperm maturation. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science Inc. All rights reserved.