Male pill: Infertility gene discovery may lead to contraceptive
COURTESY: Times Of India
Scientists have found a gene that plays a key role in
production of healthy sperm, a
breakthrough that could pave way for developing a new
contraceptive pill for men.
LONDON: Scottish scientists have discovered a gene that plays a key
role in production of healthy sperm, a breakthrough they say could
soon pave the way for developing a new
contraceptive pill for men.
In experiments on mice, researchers at the Centre for Reproductive
Health at the University of Edinburgh found a gene, called Katnal1,
which was vital for the final stages of sperm production.
Detailing their findings in the journal PLos Genetics, the researchers
said a drug which interrupts Katnal1 could be a reversible
contraceptive.
Contraception in men is largely down to condoms or a vasectomy, but
experts said there was "certainly a need" for such a drug, the BBC
reported.
The researchers were actually investigating the causes of male
infertility, for which they randomly altered the genetic code of mice
to see which became infertile. They then traced the mutations causing
infertility, which led them to find Katnal1. It contains the
blueprints for a protein which is important in cells that support
sperm making. Without the protein, sperm do not fully form and the
body disposes of them.
The scientists hoped they would be able to perform a similar trick in
humans to stop sperm developing, without causing lasting damage.
Dr Lee Smith, one of the study authors, said: "If we can find a way to
target this gene in the testes, we could potentially develop a
non-hormonal contraceptive. "The important thing is that the effects
of such a drug would be reversible because Katnal1 only affects sperm
cells in the later stages of development, so it would not hinder the
early stages of sperm production and the overall ability to produce
sperm."
Dr Smith said it would be "relatively difficult" to do as the protein
lives inside cells, however, he said there was "potential" to find
something else that protein worked with, which might be an easier
target.
Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of
Sheffield, said there was "certainly a need" for a non-hormonal
contraceptive for men and that this had been a "Holy Grail" of
research for many years. "The key in developing a non-hormonal
contraceptive for men is that the molecular target needs to be very
specific for either sperm or other cells in the testicle which are
involved in sperm production," he said. "If they are not, then such a
contraceptive could have unwanted side effects on other cells and
tissues in the body and may even be dangerous. "The gene described by
the research group in Edinburgh sounds like an exciting new possible
target for a new male contraceptive, but it may also shed light on why
some men and sub-fertile and why their sperm does not work properly,"
he added.
Scientists have found a gene that plays a key role in
production of healthy sperm, a
breakthrough that could pave way for developing a new
contraceptive pill for men.
LONDON: Scottish scientists have discovered a gene that plays a key
role in production of healthy sperm, a breakthrough they say could
soon pave the way for developing a new
contraceptive pill for men.
In experiments on mice, researchers at the Centre for Reproductive
Health at the University of Edinburgh found a gene, called Katnal1,
which was vital for the final stages of sperm production.
Detailing their findings in the journal PLos Genetics, the researchers
said a drug which interrupts Katnal1 could be a reversible
contraceptive.
Contraception in men is largely down to condoms or a vasectomy, but
experts said there was "certainly a need" for such a drug, the BBC
reported.
The researchers were actually investigating the causes of male
infertility, for which they randomly altered the genetic code of mice
to see which became infertile. They then traced the mutations causing
infertility, which led them to find Katnal1. It contains the
blueprints for a protein which is important in cells that support
sperm making. Without the protein, sperm do not fully form and the
body disposes of them.
The scientists hoped they would be able to perform a similar trick in
humans to stop sperm developing, without causing lasting damage.
Dr Lee Smith, one of the study authors, said: "If we can find a way to
target this gene in the testes, we could potentially develop a
non-hormonal contraceptive. "The important thing is that the effects
of such a drug would be reversible because Katnal1 only affects sperm
cells in the later stages of development, so it would not hinder the
early stages of sperm production and the overall ability to produce
sperm."
Dr Smith said it would be "relatively difficult" to do as the protein
lives inside cells, however, he said there was "potential" to find
something else that protein worked with, which might be an easier
target.
Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of
Sheffield, said there was "certainly a need" for a non-hormonal
contraceptive for men and that this had been a "Holy Grail" of
research for many years. "The key in developing a non-hormonal
contraceptive for men is that the molecular target needs to be very
specific for either sperm or other cells in the testicle which are
involved in sperm production," he said. "If they are not, then such a
contraceptive could have unwanted side effects on other cells and
tissues in the body and may even be dangerous. "The gene described by
the research group in Edinburgh sounds like an exciting new possible
target for a new male contraceptive, but it may also shed light on why
some men and sub-fertile and why their sperm does not work properly,"
he added.
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