Lead to a new male contraceptive
A recent study of over 1,000 semen samples from infertile men showed that 81percent had defects in motility, which is the need for forward movement of sperm to fertilize eggs, the researchers write.The researchers found that without GAPDS, the sperm of mice could only slowly from left to right Bob, but he could not push forward to fertilize an egg of the mouse.
If a drug could be developed, which has the same effect on humans, it could create a male contraceptive that does not affect hormone levels.
The mouse chemical has a long name – glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-S – and a name very soon, GAPDS. In humans, called GAPD2.
A drug based on the same idea could also be deposited in the female reproductive system to stop the movement of sperm, says Louis De Paolo, Ph.D., National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, in a press release.
We were very surprised by this discovery, said Deborah O’Brien, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, in a press release.
Once ejaculated, sperm swim towards the egg for fertilization. Disable sperm motility may provide a new form of male hormone is not.
O’Brien and his colleagues have discovered that certain chemicals are found only in sperm cells, it is necessary to generate the energy for sperm to swim forward. The researchers studied mice, but human males have a similar enzyme.
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Meanwhile, other researchers working on the basis of male hormones. In addition, scientists have recently reported that a new immunization strategy could hold promise. But for now, short of abstinence, male birth control options are limited to condoms and vasectomy.
In laboratory experiments, researchers have manipulated the gene that makes GAPDS to prevent the mice to the chemical. The mice were then able to impregnate female mice, although their sperm counts and mating was normal.
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