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Gossypol‐induced inhibition of plasminogen activator activity in human and ovine acrosomal extract
Author(s) -
Taitzoglou I. A.,
Tsantarliotou M.,
Kouretas D.,
Kokolis N. A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0272.1999.00294.x
Subject(s) - gossypol , plasmin , plasminogen activator , acrosome reaction , chemistry , activator (genetics) , fibrinolysis , biological activity , in vitro , mechanism of action , biochemistry , andrology , endocrinology , pharmacology , medicine , enzyme , biology , receptor
The effect of gossypol—a polycyclic compound isolated from cotton seeds—on the plasminogen activator activity of man and ram acrosomal extracts was explored in vitro . The action of gossypol on the plasminogen activator activity was investigated by a spectrophotometric method using the chromogenic substrate S‐2251. Gossypol, a known antispermatogenic agent, was found to effectively inhibit human and ovine acrosomal plasminogen activator activity. The inhibition was dose‐dependent. Plasminogen activator activity from man and ram extracts was completely inhibited by 350 μmol l −1 and 300 μmol l −1 of gossypol, respectively. In additional experiments, low, non‐spermicidal concentrations of gossypol (2.5–40 μmol l −1 ) were found to significantly inhibit plasmin activity in a dose‐dependent manner. The results suggest that inhibition of both acrosomal plasminogen activator and plasmin activity is a possible mechanism by which gossypol exerts its antifertility effect, since the plasminogen activator/plasmin system plays a role in the whole process of ovum fertilization.