A discovery that blocks the normal shift of semen from a thick gel to a liquid shows pledge for development of a brand-new type of non-hormonal, over the counter birth control.
A Washington State University-led research study team just recently revealed that obstructing prostate-specific-antigen in human ejaculate samples triggered the semen to remain in its thick gel type, trapping the majority of the sperm. Typically, the semen will liquefy, permitting sperm to swim through the female reproductive system to fertilize an ovum or egg. The discovery has the ability to stop that procedure and detailed in the journal Biology of Reproduction.
A Washington State University-led research group just recently showed that blocking prostate-specific-antigen in human ejaculate samples caused the semen to remain in its thick gel kind, trapping the bulk of the sperm. Typically, the semen will liquefy, enabling sperm to swim through the female reproductive system to fertilize an ovum or egg. “Using a PSA inhibitor, an antibody, we revealed that we could block that liquefaction.”
The next step is to recognize more particular small molecule inhibitors that would effectively prevent PSAs capability to liquefy semen without any destructive side effects. By targeting the liquefaction procedure of the semen itself, this advance could prevent that type of toxicity, but more research study requires to be done.
” Our goal is to develop this into an easily available female contraceptive that would be offered on-demand, suggesting ladies could go purchase it off the rack,” stated senior author Joy Winuthayanon, associate teacher and director of WSUs Center for Reproductive Biology. “It could be used in combination with a prophylactic to reduce the failure rate significantly.”
Currently over the counter contraceptives such as condoms and spermicides have a typical 13% to 21% failure rate, the research study authors kept in mind. Hormonal-based contraceptives such as IUDs and birth control tablets have lower failure rates, but they can have some side-effects and are not constantly easily offered or economical– which might be one reason why worldwide the unintended pregnancy rate is currently 48%, according to current international health research.
A control sample of human semen (left) versus a sample treated with AEBSF to block semen liquefaction (right). Credit: Washington State University
The WSU team has been dealing with this contraceptive technique since 2015 after it was unintentionally found that some of the female mice in a various reproductive study might not get pregnant; upon examining even more, the scientists discovered the males semen was remaining in solid kind. The researchers then attempted stopping the semen liquification process in mice on function, and using a non-specific protease inhibitor called AEBSF, they were able to disrupt sperm movement and reduce fertility in mice, detailing their lead to an earlier Biology of Reproduction paper.
They then used an antibody to target the prostate-specific antigen or PSA in human sperm. They chose PSA since it is the main active protein in liquefication and produced in big amounts from the prostate gland, which is present in humans but not in mice.
Typically, after ejaculation the PSA acts upon the gel-forming proteins called semenogelins, explained very first author Prashanth Anamthathmakula, who worked as a WSU post-doctoral fellow on the job.
” The semenogelins produce a gel-like network with a fine mesh of proteins which traps the sperm. The PSA cleaves that mesh and the sperm end up being free,” stated Anamthathmakula, who is now a senior research study scientist at University of Missouri-Kansas City. “Using a PSA inhibitor, an antibody, we showed that we might obstruct that liquefaction.”
The next action is to identify more particular little molecule inhibitors that would effectively prevent PSAs capability to melt semen with no detrimental negative effects. The researchers kept in mind that present spermicides have been revealed to reduce the natural vaginal barriers versus sexually transmitted illness like HIV. By targeting the liquefaction procedure of the semen itself, this advance might avoid that type of toxicity, however more research needs to be done.
” It is a little a long procedure because we dont desire off-target results,” stated Winuthayanon. “If we are going to establish this into the contraceptive product, it may be something that ladies would utilize frequently, so we want something that is safe and has no unexpected results.”
Referral:” Blocking serine protease activity avoids Semenogelin deterioration resulting in Hyperviscous semen in humans” by Prashanth Anamthathmakula, Jeffery A Erickson and Wipawee Winuthayanon, 29 January 2022, Biology of Reproduction.DOI: 10.1093/ biolre/ioac023.
Financing: NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.