Researcher comes the pill for the man?

Pill successful for the man in the mouse test

17/08/2012

US scientists have successfully tested the pill for the man. In model experiments on mice, the molecule known from cancer research achieved JQ1 „a complete and reversible contraceptive effect“, The researchers report to Martin Matzuk of Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas) in the journal „Cell“.

While many pharmacological contraceptives are available to women, contraception in men has so far been largely confined to the use of condoms. For years, researchers worldwide have been working to develop a pill for men. If the results of the US researchers also confirm in humans, this would be a breakthrough breakthrough. Especially since the tested drug does not interfere with the hormone balance and the achieved inhibition of sperm completely decreases as soon as the pill is discontinued.

Number and motility of sperm reduced
Originally, the oncologist James Bradner from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, who was also involved in the current study, investigated the effect of the JQ1 molecule in cancer. It showed that JQ 1 successfully inhibits certain proteins, which in turn regulate the activity of the genes. Among the blocked proteins was also the „testicular specific BRDT“, which has a significant influence on sperm development, write the US scientists in the science article„Small molecular inhibition of BRDT for male contraception“. In experiments on mice, it has been shown that the treatment with JQ1 by blocking the BRDT reduces the number and motility of the sperm without interfering with the hormone levels, according to Martin Matzuk and colleagues.

Sex drive and hormone balance unaffected by the pill for the man
Although the treated males usually showed a normal mating behavior, but caused the „selective low molecular weight inhibitor“ JQ1 „a complete and reversible contraceptive effect“, report the US scientists. Sex drive and hormone levels remained untouched. After discontinuation of the drug, the sperm could develop completely normal again. According to Matzuk and colleagues, the mouse males produced healthy offspring with no unwanted effects. In a next step pharmacological contraceptives for the man could be developed, which likewise aim at a blocking of the protein BRDT. The molecule JQ1, according to the US researchers, however, unsuitable as a contraceptive, as well as other proteins are blocked, thus threatening unwanted effects elsewhere in the organism.

New approach of a pharmacological contraceptive for men
„The study is a fundamentally new approach that will advance our field“, The research commissioner of the German Society of Andrology, Stefan Schlatt, assessed the current results of the US scientists to the news agency „dpa“. Whether the pill for men can be introduced in a timely manner as a new contraceptive method is still in the stars. Researchers have reported on groundbreaking results in the past, especially with hormonal drugs, but a pharmacological contraceptive for men is not yet available on the market. (Fp)

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