No abstract

Treatment of ursolic acid to Wistar strain male albino rats resulted in severe disruption of spermatogenesis. The most diagnostic change in the seminiferous epithelium was the opening up of the intercellular bridges between the male germ cell clones, resulting in the formation of symplasts. In this property, ursolic acid is comparable to cytochalasin D. Symplasts are exfoliated from the Sertoli cell. The Leydig cells are hypertrophied. Cauda epididymidal sperm motility was impaired, and several sperm exhibited abnormalities. Among the epididymal epithelial cell types, the clear cells of the caput as well as the cauda appeared to be increased in abundance and were rounded‐up. The results indicate that from the male reproductive toxicological point of view, caution 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. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Treatment of ursolic acid to Wistar strain male albino rats resulted in severe disruption of spermatogenesis. The most diagnostic change in the seminiferous epithelium was the opening up of the intercellular bridges between the male germ cell clones, resulting in the formation of symplasts. In this property, ursolic acid is comparable to cytochalasin D. Symplasts are exfoliated from the Sertoli cell. The Leydig cells are hypertrophied. Cauda epididymidal sperm motility was impaired, and several sperm exhibited abnormalities. Among the epididymal epithelial cell types, the clear cells of the caput as well as the cauda appeared to be increased in abundance and were rounded-up. The results indicate that from the male reproductive toxicological point of view, caution 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. Figures 13-15. Sections of the ventral prostatic acini of rat: (13) vehicle control group; (14) ursolic acid treated (arrow points to concretion of the secretory material); (15) acini with lumen containing concretion of secretory material (arrow) and spermatozoa (S). (HE stain: 13, 15, 100 ϫ ; 14, 200 ϫ .) URSOLIC ACID AND SPERMATOGENESIS 35

This study examines the effects of subcutaneous injections of a plant pterocarpan, gangetin, isolated from the roots of Desmodium gangeticum DC. (Family Leguminosae) on the fertility of adult male rats. Daily administration of gangetin (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg body weight for 30 days) caused an impairment of fertility (number of implants were reduced significantly) and it was dose dependent. The treatment also caused a reduction in the vaginal sperm count and an enhancement of pre‐implantation losses. Complete recovery of fertility was evident 30 days after the withdrawal of gangetin treatment. The number of spermatozoa in the caput and cauda epididymis were decreased concomitant with a decrease in the motility of spermatozoa, collected from the cauda epididymis. The weights of testes, epididymides, vas deferens and prostate were also significantly decreased. It was observed that the changes in the parameters were strictly dose dependent. Also it was observed that cessation of treatment for a further period of 30 days brought full recovery of these effects. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Gangetin, a plant pterocarpan when administered subcutaneously to adult male rats at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight/day for 56 days caused a significant reduction in mating rate. Also a decrease in the weight of the testes and accessory sex organs, a decrease in fructose content of the coagulating gland and a reduction in acid phosphatase activity in the prostate were observed. All these effects were found to be reversed by exogenous prolactin (500 μg/kg body weight/day) plus testosterone propionate (200 μg/kg body weight/day), but not by prolactin or testosterone alone, when administered along with gangetin for the last 28 days. An inhibitory influence of gangetin over the reproductive organs is believed to be attributed primarily to the antiprolactin nature of gangetin and secondarily to the significant (p <0.001) fall in plasma testosterone level caused by gangetin. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.