Non-hormonal male pill successful in animal studies

Scientists may now be one
step closer to producing the first non-hormonal, male contraceptive pill after
a successful animal study.

The study, published
in the journal Cell, claims that a compound called JQ1 is able to disrupt
spermatogenesis - the maturing of sperm - in male mice as it crosses from the
blood to the testis.

'Our
findings demonstrate that, when given to rodents, this compound produces a
rapid and reversible decrease in sperm count and mobility with profound effects
on fertility', said Dr
James Bradner, senior author of the study at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
in Boston, USA.

The researchers showed
that JQ1 works by inhibiting BRDT, a protein critical to fertility that
instructs germ cells to grow into sperm cells. The result is a decrease in the
number and quality of sperm, without any affect to the hormonal system and
libido.

'There is no effect on the
mouse's mojo. The animals exhibit the normal sexual behaviours and frequency of
copulation', said Dr Bradner.

The study also showed that when the
drug treatment was discontinued, sperm production and fertility was restored to
normal levels.

'To date, most of the trials have attempted to
stop sperm production by manipulating the male hormone testosterone through the
use of injections or implants', explained Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in
andrology at the University of Sheffield.

However, hormone
treatments can have serious side effects. 'Non-hormonal targets are urgently
needed', said Dr Bradner.

Professor William
Bremner, of the University of Washington in Seattle and who was not involved in
the study, told ABC News that since the development of condoms centuries ago, there has
not been a new reversible contraceptive for men.

Though the drug
offers promising evidence for the development of an oral pill for human
contraception, Dr Bradner and colleagues are aware of the challenges in developing
a new product for human use.

Professor
Robert McLachlan, Director of Clinical Research at Prince Henry's Institute of
Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia said further studies in animals would
need to be performed before it could be trialled in men.

Talking to ABC News, he said: 'The development of a potential contraceptive is
a very long and arduous process leading up to the first human studies. It will be fascinating to see how the drug evolves, but we know that
such pipelines may require 15 years of evaluation and there are many potential
pitfalls along the journey'.