4 minute read
Health
New development for hormone-free male contraceptive pill
A new study led by a team of Monash researchers working to develop a male contraceptive pill has identi ed that stinging nettle leaf extract has the potential to block a protein that controls the movement of sperm.
e discovery is an incremental yet important advance for the research group, led by Dr Sab Ventura from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, who have previously shown that male infertility could be genetically achieved by simultaneously deleting two proteins that trigger the transport of sperm – α1Aadrenoceptor and P2X1-purinoceptor – but without a ecting the long-term viability of sperm or sexual and general health. e study, published in PLOS ONE, identi ed that stinging nettle leaf extract contains a component that could orally inhibit one of the two proteins, P2X1purinoceptor. Dr Ventura said that this is an exciting step forward to show that the teams’ biological mechanism for male contraception is orally viable.
“ e primary aim of this research was to investigate the activity of a commercially available stinging nettle extract as an inhibitor of the P2X1-purinoceptor target, and to determine its pharmacological e ect,” said Dr Ventura.
“In this study we were able to conclude that stinging nettle leaf extract reduces contractility of urinary and genital smooth muscle by acting as a P2X1-purinoceptor antagonist, and that blocking sperm transport through pharmacological blockade of P2X1-purinoceptors via oral administration is an e ective and convenient biological strategy for male contraception.” e next step for this research is to isolate the bioactive component of this extract or identify a similar compound suitable for chemical optimization to use as a male contraceptive.
At the moment the options for male contraception include only condoms and vasectomy, with the burden of preventing pregnancy largely and unevenly falling on women or people with a uterus.
“Unfortunately there has been a widespread perception that birth control is a women’s problem rather than a men’s problem,” said Dr Ventura.
“However research led by the Male Contraceptive Initiative shows that the majority of men are willing to take control over contraception – we just need to give them the opportunity to do so.”
Eat Well To Boost Sperm CENTRE FOR MALE HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Adelaide researchers are hoping to discover if obese men who want to become fathers can improve the quality of their sperm by changing their diet rather than just losing weight.
e answer could come from a 12-week Diet for Dads Sperm Study, which seeks men willing to try a “nutrient dense” diet and have their sperm checked. Participants in the study are o ered incentives, including Coles-Myer gi cards worth $150. e study may show that obese men do not actually have to lose weight to improve their sperm — just get on a healthier diet. e study led by Dr Nicole McPherson and researchers from the Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing at the University of Adelaide, the Robinson Research Institute, CSIRO and SAHMRI aims to test whether current clinical advice to lose weight should be modi ed to highlight the importance of good nutrition rather than just weight loss.
Dr McPherson said there is ample evidence that obesity is linked to poorer quality sperm, lower sperm counts and increased DNA damage — and when a pregnancy occurs the poor sperm can a ect the health of the baby.
“People expect it is a case of just lose weight and it will x the problem but it is about understanding the best way to lose weight,” she said.
“We don’t think you even necessarily have to lose weight to increase the health of sperm, it may be done just through diet modi cation.”
Dr McPherson noted crash diets or poorly supervised weight loss could make the situation worse, resulting in unhealthy sperm and genetic risks to children.
“ e evidence suggests it is how you go about losing the weight, not just going on a crash diet or quickly trying to lose weight,” she said. e study will use a CSIRO-based diet similar to a Mediterranean style diet — plenty of fruit, vegetables, sh, nuts and legumes, less meat and cutting back on alcohol. e project aims to recruit 50 men aged 20 to 45, who are non-smokers, and have a body mass index of greater than 30. Men do not need to be actively trying to conceive a child in order to participate. ey will attend a baseline appointment where they will have height, weight and blood pressure measurements taken, give a blood sample, and also produce a semen sample for analysis either at the University of Adelaide clinic or “in the comfort of their own home”. ey will be randomly allocated into either a control or an intervention group and wear a smart watch for one week to monitor their movement and sleeping patterns.
Both groups will submit a fortnightly food diary and weekly self-weigh in, however the intervention group will have guidance from the study dietitian on food intake.
Measurements will be repeated at 12 weeks, and all participants will be given a $75 gi card at baseline and another $75 gi card at their post-intervention semen analysis in compensation for participating.
Men aged between 18 and 45 with a BMI of 30 or above and a waist circumference greater than 102cm are being sought for the study. Men do not need to be actively trying to conceive a child in order to participate. For more
information email: nicola.mathews@adelaide.edu.au
