vIndianz.com (Dec. 01, 2009) — Manipulating testicular hormone levels can change male fertility now and then, giving means to a fresh approach for emergent ‘the pill’ for men,
According to a study report published in the December 2009 print issue of The FASEB Journal, one day men may perhaps have related kind of control over their fertility that women have had ever since the 1960s – all credits to scientists who have revealed how and where androgenic hormones work in the testis to be in charge of normal sperm production and male fertility. This opens a hopeful opportunity for the growth of “the pill” for men.
The breakthrough too offers optimism to those who cannot have children because of low sperm counts. Even though the study was conducted in mice, a related effect is expected to acquire in other mammals, for example humans.
“This study provides a fresh chance to recognize how androgens are in charge of sperm production, which could present latest insight for the growth of fresh treatments for male infertility and possibly innovative male contraceptives,” said Michelle Welsh, Ph.D., co-author of the study, from the Centre for Reproductive Biology at The Queen’s Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, UK.
To formulate this discovery, Welsh and colleagues performed studies in two groups of mice. The first group of mice was common, but the second group of mice was missing a gene from the peritubular myoid cells in the testis. This gene that was missing codes for the androgen hormone receptor, and when missing, sperm production was considerably decreased when compared to the common group. The consequence was infertility.
“Although ‘the pill’ possibly has been beneficial for women ever since its development in the 1960s, a related to birth control drug for men has been indefinable,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
“Not only does this study identify androgenic hormones and their cellular receptors as main targets for the growth of new birth control drugs, but it promises to speed the development of latest agents to boost sperm production,” the expert added.
Stay updated! Follow us on twitter and subscribe to our feed via Feedburner.
Loading ...
No Comments