Studies on antifertility effects of gossypol acetic acid in domestic cocks

Summary. Daily oral administration of gossypol acetic acid (40 mg/kg body weight daily) resulted in a gradual decrease in the semen volume and sperm concentration. Fertility dropped to zero at the end of the treatment period. Activities of acrosin, hyaluronidase and angiotensin converting enzyme were also drastically decreased by the end of the treatment period. A loss of appetite, loss of body weight and morphological abnormalities in spermatozoa were noticed in the treated cocks. At 4 weeks after cessation of the treatment, full recovery of the above measures was recorded. Healthy chicks were hatched and were observed for several months.