Scientists at Cornell University may be closing in on the long-sought “holy grail” of male contraception: a safe, reversible, nonhormonal method that completely halts sperm production. In a breakthrough mouse study, researchers used a compound called JQ1 to temporarily shut down meiosis—the critical process that produces sperm—without causing lasting harm. After treatment stopped, sperm production bounced back, fertility returned, and the animals produced healthy offspring.
  • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
    18·
    3 days ago

    To achieve this, scientists used JQ1, a small molecule inhibitor originally developed to study cancer and inflammatory diseases. While JQ1 is not suitable as a treatment due to neurological side effects, it is known to interfere with a stage of meiosis called prophase 1.

    • kungen@feddit.nuEnglish
      222·
      3 days ago

      So the substance isn’t a possible treatment for cancer because of neurological side effects… and their next step is “let’s sell it to guys who aren’t able to use condoms”?

      • monotremata@lemmy.caEnglish
        11·
        3 days ago

        I think the idea is that this particular drug isn’t suitable as birth control, but having identified that this mechanism/biological pathway can work for birth control, they can look for a less toxic compound to achieve the same effect.

      • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
        7·
        3 days ago

        sounds that way to me. I think the thing like always is the title. its something they noticed and now a track to find something that does a similar type of mechanism without the bad side effects.

    • JcbAzPx@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 days ago

      While JQ1 is not suitable as a treatment due to neurological side effects

      That doesn’t sound very safe.

      • LaLuzDelSol@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Should have just used bleach if they don’t care about it actually being a viable treatment. Or, for that matter, we’ve already invented spermicidal foam…

    • zlatiah@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      Bruh the cancer lab (prostate cancer out of all things) I worked in as an undergrad was studying JQ1. Couldn’t believe I’d ever hear this drug name again. Really hope this can go somewhere, reversible contraceptive sounds exciting

        • zlatiah@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          I’m back in cancer research for my current job again. But not in prostate… and more importantly, I’m on the computational side of things instead of experimental now

          Also as to the topic… there were a few people in my undergrad lab who were actively studying JQ1 (back in 2017-18), but I’ve never heard much about the drug after I left. Thanks to you I finally found out why I never heard about it again (neurological side effects) so