Objective To investigate effects of combined regimen of low dose gossypol with steroid hormones on apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cells. Methods Adult male rats were divided into four groups randomly, group GH: rats were fed orally with gossypol(GA) ［12.5mg / (kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］ and desogestrel(DSG)［125μg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］/ethinyloestradil(E)［25μg/ (kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］/testosterone undecanoate(TU)［100mg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］; group G: a single does of GA［12.5mg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d ) ］ was given; group H: DSG［125μg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］/E［25μg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］/TU［100mg/(kgI>&#/I>8226;d) ］ were administered; group C: rats only received vehicle(1% methyl cellulose). Testes from all the rats were removed at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after treatment for counting of spermatocyte and round spermatid using stereological assay, and for detecting apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cell by TUNEL and oil red O staining respectively. Results In GH group, the number of spermatocyte and round sperm