Scientists Working on Male Contraceptive Drug

Posted on November 3, 2006

WebMD reports that scientists have made some progress in rats with Adjudin, a drug that has the potential to act as a male contraceptive. WebMD's article says recent lab test on rats showed no signs of side effects and that the effects of the drug wore off in 20 weeks.

Basically, Adjudin nips wannabe sperm cells in the bud. Those cells, called germ cells, ordinarily develop into sperm. But they need the help of other cells, called Sertoli cells, to reach that destiny.
Adjudin interferes with the process.
Cheng's team previously reported from other animal tests that Adjudin, given orally by itself, was too toxic to be a suitable contraceptive because it caused liver inflammation and muscle shrinkage (atrophy).
So the scientists bundled Adjudin with a synthetic version of the sex hormone FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and injected it into the bellies of four male rats.

A male contraceptive pill that had no side effects and could last for months would be a major breakthrough. There will have to be considerable testing of this drug to make sure there will be no side effects -- like the liver inflammation and muscle shrinkage mentioned above.

HEALTH