Effectiveness of albumin-conjugated gossypol as an immunogen to prevent gossypol-associated acute hepatotoxicity in rats

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2013-06, Vol.56, p.149-153
• Main Authors: Fonseca, Nayanna Brunna da Silva, Gadelha, Ivana Cristina Nunes, Oloris, Sílvia Catarina Salgado, Soto-Blanco, Benito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; albumins; Animals; Anti-nutritional factor; Antibodies; Antibodies - blood; antigens; Biological and medical sciences; blood serum; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - prevention & control; corn oil; cotton; Female; Freund's Adjuvant - administration & dosage; Gossypium; Gossypium spp; Gossypol; Gossypol - administration & dosage; Gossypol - adverse effects; hepatotoxicity; Immunization; Immunoconjugates - administration & dosage; Immunoconjugates - pharmacology; Injections, Intraperitoneal; intraperitoneal injection; Lipids - administration & dosage; Male; Medical sciences; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum Albumin, Bovine - administration & dosage; Serum Albumin, Bovine - pharmacology; sodium chloride; Toxicology; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.02.010

► Gossypol is a toxic compound present in cotton seeds. ► An immunogen was produced conjugating gossypol to bovine serum albumin (gossypol–BSA). ► Immunization with gossypol–BSA+Freund’s adjuvant was not effective for preventing the gossypol acute hepatotoxicity. Gossypol is a highly reactive compound present in cotton (Gossypium spp.). The aim of this work was to determine whether the administration of gossypol conjugated to albumin can immunize rats and thereby prevent the acute hepatotoxicity associated with gossypol. The first experiment consisted of administering the immunogen gossypol–BSA, with or without the Freund’s incomplete adjuvant, to rats. The production of antibodies against gossypol was subsequently verified. The second experiment comprised three groups of Wistar rats: VG, CG and CO. The rats from the VG cohort were injected with gossypol–BSA associated with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant, and the animals from the CG and CO groups were injected with saline solution. After 21days, the rats from the VG and CG cohorts were treated with 30mg/kg of gossypol by intraperitoneal injection, whereas the rats from the CO group received corn oil. After 24h, the rats were evaluated for clinical signs of pathology, and their serum was biochemically analyzed. It was found that gossypol promoted hepatotoxic effects that were not prevented by the administration of gossypol–BSA. In conclusion, the administration of gossypol–BSA associated with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant may be lightly to prevent the acute hepatotoxicity associated with gossypol.