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New perspective in male infertility: Identification of new molecular target for male contraceptives

Date:
October 20, 2015
Source:
Osaka University
Summary:
To date, oral contraceptives for women have been developed and used worldwide, but, there are no oral contraceptives for men.
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To date, oral contraceptives for women have been developed and used worldwide, but, there are no oral contraceptives for men.

A group of researchers at Osaka University found that sperm calcineurin deficient male mice are infertile. The development of a drug that specifically inhibits sperm calcineurin may be the long-sought out reversible male contraceptive that works in a short time span. The group also discovered that the flexibility of the sperm midpiece is essential for fertilizing ability, which opens up new possibilities in studying male infertility.

Calcineurin is a well-characterized calcium-dependent phosphatase and its inhibitors (CsA and FK506) have been clinically used for immunosuppression after organ transplantation. In toxicity tests using rats and mice, it has been reported that these drugs also impair male fertility.

The group led by Professor Masahito Ikawa at Osaka University found that sperm-specific calcineurin is essential for proper sperm motility. The group identified PPP3CC/PPP3R2 as the form of calcineurin that is specifically localized in the sperm and named it sperm calcineurin. Assistant Professor Haruhiko Miyata generated sperm calcineurin deficient mice and found that the mutant male mice were infertile. The group also found that wild type mice treated with calcineurin inhibitors such as Cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506 became infertile within 2 weeks. Their fertility recovered within a week after the discontinuation of the drug treatment.

The results of this research was published in Science.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Osaka University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. H. Miyata, Y. Satouh, D. Mashiko, M. Muto, K. Nozawa, K. Shiba, Y. Fujihara, A. Isotani, K. Inaba, M. Ikawa. Sperm calcineurin inhibition prevents mouse fertility with implications for male contraceptive. Science, 2015; DOI: 10.1126/science.aad0836

Cite This Page:

Osaka University. "New perspective in male infertility: Identification of new molecular target for male contraceptives." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151020091651.htm>.
Osaka University. (2015, October 20). New perspective in male infertility: Identification of new molecular target for male contraceptives. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151020091651.htm
Osaka University. "New perspective in male infertility: Identification of new molecular target for male contraceptives." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151020091651.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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