ARS | Publication request: Accumulation of Gossypol Enantiomers in Ovine Tissues

Submitted to: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 10, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Consumption of cottonseed with high levels of gossypol can be lethal to lambs. It is thought that only the (-)-isomer of gossypol is toxic. To further study gossypol's toxicity, it is important to determine the concentration of (+)- and (-)-gossypol. A method to quantitate (+)- and (-)-gossypol was developed and the concentration of the isomers were determined in various ovine tissues.

Technical Abstract: Tissue residue levels of gossypol enantiomers in cottonseed-fed and lethally-intoxicated lambs were determined by HPLC-uv detection method. Gossypol was derivatized with (+)-2-amino-1-propanol and separated with a reversed phase C18 column and the elution of analytes was monitored at 254 nm. The highest residue level was found in the liver tissue (318-416 ng total gossypol/mg dry tissue) and the residue of (-)-gossypol was higher than (+)-gossypol in the heart, muscle, and spleen. The detection limit was 2 ng and the detector response of gossypol-amine adducts was linear between 2-100 ng enantiomers.