Hormonal Switch for Men
Scientists recently discovered a great deal about androgenic hormones in the testis of male mice. This information is very promising in showing how the androgenic hormones in humans behave as well. If scientists can further discover the details of this hormones behavior in humans, they can hopefully use this information to begin research on infertility studies and even a male contraceptive.
The androgenic hormone is the hormone present in male testis that controls the sperm production and male fertility. The study recently conducted on mice took place in the Centre for Reproductive Biology at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and consisted of two different groups. The first group was a number of regular male mice, with all hormones and genes present. The second group was a number of male mice that were missing a gene from the peritubular myoid cells in the testis. This gene holds codes for the androgen hormone receptor, and therefore it is responsible for a great deal of sperm production. During the study, the male mice without this gene had a very low sperm count and thus were infertile. Those with the gene were still fertile and had a significantly higher sperm count. Prior to this test, information about the exact hormone and location of such high level of sperm production were not known. With the addition of this information, further research on infertility and contraceptives can begin using the androgenic hormone as a good candidate for that research to be centered around.
I think that this is really interesting research because you never really think about why there is no “the pill” for men, but it never occurred to me that it’s because they didn’t know enough about the male reproductive system. The great thing about this research is that not only could this create a male contraceptive, but it could also help those people that have struggled with infertility for a better part of their lives.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130112419.htm
Robin Terry
VTPP 435-502
The androgenic hormone is the hormone present in male testis that controls the sperm production and male fertility. The study recently conducted on mice took place in the Centre for Reproductive Biology at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and consisted of two different groups. The first group was a number of regular male mice, with all hormones and genes present. The second group was a number of male mice that were missing a gene from the peritubular myoid cells in the testis. This gene holds codes for the androgen hormone receptor, and therefore it is responsible for a great deal of sperm production. During the study, the male mice without this gene had a very low sperm count and thus were infertile. Those with the gene were still fertile and had a significantly higher sperm count. Prior to this test, information about the exact hormone and location of such high level of sperm production were not known. With the addition of this information, further research on infertility and contraceptives can begin using the androgenic hormone as a good candidate for that research to be centered around.
I think that this is really interesting research because you never really think about why there is no “the pill” for men, but it never occurred to me that it’s because they didn’t know enough about the male reproductive system. The great thing about this research is that not only could this create a male contraceptive, but it could also help those people that have struggled with infertility for a better part of their lives.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130112419.htm
Robin Terry
VTPP 435-502
posted by Robin Terry at 2:01 PM
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