ScienceAsia 15 (1989): 055-063 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1989.15.055

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GOSSYPOL IN MALE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY^c

SUKUMAL CHONGTHAMMAKUN,^a KANOK PAVASUTHIPAISIT,^a YINDEE KITIYANANT^a AND PUTTIPONGSE VARAVUDHI^a

ABSTRACT: The effects of gossypol treatment on metabolic and key organ functions were studied in cynomolgus monkeys Macaca fascicularis. Twelve male monkeys were treated intramuscularly with various doses of gossypol (0.5 mg/kg daily, weekly, or every 2 weeks) for 8 weeks. Hormonal and blood chemistry profiles were examined at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. A high dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) of gossypol caused elevation of serum uric acid (UA), liver enzymes, aldolase (ALD), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH_4-5), suggesting liver and skeletal muscle damage and some impairment of renal function. A moderate dose (0.5 mg/kg/week) of gossypol caused elevation of serum ALD, CPK and LDH_4-5 and thus affected only skeletal muscle function, and a low dose (0.5 mg/kg/2 weeks) seemed to possess antifertility effects without toxicity. Various doses of gossypol given intramusculary thus had variable side effects on metabolic and key organ functions, and the maximum safe (nontoxic) dose was 0.5 mg/kg/2 weeks.

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a) Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
b) Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
c) Supported by WHO grant #78150.

Received 14 February 1989