Mechanisms of infertility caused by gossipol in rats and protective effect of vitamin E

• Grant number: 13/18582-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Erminio Mingatto
• Grantee: Paulo Francisco Veiga Bizerra
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mitochondria are organelles responsible for the synthesis of almost all the ATP necessary for the maintenance of cell structure and function through oxidative phosphorylation, which is the final stage of metabolism energy producer in aerobic organisms. The bran cotton (Gossypium sp) is the world's second most important source available or protein supplement for animal feed, surpassed only by soybeans. Gossypol is a toxic phenolic substance present in cottonseed that has been shown to reduce fertility in farm animals. In this sense, it is essential to elucidate the toxicological characteristics of gossypol, so that cottonseed meal can be used safely by farmers without harming animal performance. Due to these aspects the aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of gossypol on sperm production in rats including damage assessment in mitochondria isolated from testes, besides analyzing the action of vitamin E in inhibiting the toxic effects of gossypol. Will be performed analyzes to determine fertility and sperm concentration, besides of mitochondrial respiration, membrane potential and ATP synthesis in mitochondria isolated from testis.