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.
  • jqubed@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    10 days ago

    And I question how viable it is given this:

    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. This allowed researchers to demonstrate, for the first time, that targeting meiosis can safely and reversibly shut down sperm production.

    It sounds like calling the treatment “safe” might be a bit of a stretch.

    • stray@pawb.socialEnglish
      0·
      9 days ago

      I think they meant “safe” with regard to reproductive ability. It sounds like they’re happy with targeting meiosis, not with using JQ1 specifically.