Gossypol: uncoupling of respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation

Gossypol produced adverse effects $\text{in vitro}$ on rat liver mitochondira. It stimulated mitochondrial respiration at low concentrations, inhibited it at high concentrations; abolished ADP/O and respiration control ratios; reversed inhibition caused by oligomycin; stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity at low concentrations and inhibited it at high concentrations; and its effect on this enzyme was pH dependent. The possibility that gossypol may exert its toxic effect on poultry and animals by uncoupling respiratory chain-linked phosphorylation is discussed.