Male Contraception Publications: 2Q'24

This blog series highlights pertinent publications that were featured in MCI's monthly newsletter editions in the second quarter of 2024. The purpose of this blog is to report interesting or relevant work from MCI Fellows, Grantees, staff members, and other community authors in the field of male contraception.

CA2+ homeostasis and male fertility: a target for a new male contraceptive system

This article, co-authored by previous MCI Fellow Jae Yeon Hwang, highlights that two proteins, CATSPER and PMCA4, work together to maintain the correct level of calcium in sperm cells. By disrupting the balance of calcium in sperm through targeting these proteins, researchers believe it's possible to develop a new form of male contraception that prevents fertilization without affecting hormone levels. Calcium (Ca2+) plays a critical role in sperm function, specifically in enabling sperm to swim and fertilize an egg. 

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Emerging approaches to male contraception

Compared to the numerous female birth control options, choices for men are limited. This article, co-authored by former MCI grantee Dr. Wei Yan explores the exciting developments in creating new male contraceptives. Researchers are investigating both hormonal and non-hormonal methods. Hormonal approaches aim to reduce sperm production or function, but past attempts faced side effects and user concerns. Newer hormonal options are being developed to address these issues.  Non-hormonal methods target different stages of sperm development or movement, offering a promising alternative. This research is still in its early stages, but it holds promise for expanding contraceptive options for men in the future.

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Bringing proteomics to bear on male fertility: key lessons

 This article, co-authored by MCI Grantee Dr. Thomas Garcia, discusses the use of proteomics to identify biomarkers of infertility and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying male reproductive health [1]. The authors conclude that proteomics is a powerful tool for understanding male fertility and that further research is needed to translate these findings into clinical applications [1]

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Tex46 knockout male mice are sterile secondary to sperm head malformations and failure to penetrate through the zona pellucida 

TEX46 is a protein essential for normal sperm head development and male fertility. Researchers discovered that mice lacking the TEX46 gene exhibit severe male infertility due to the formation of abnormally shaped sperm heads. These abnormal sperm are unable to penetrate the zona pellucida, the protective layer surrounding the egg, preventing fertilization. The study found that TEX46 is a transmembrane protein conserved across various species, suggesting its critical role in mammalian reproduction. These findings highlight TEX46 as a promising target for the development of novel male contraceptives, offering a potential new approach to contraception.

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Shared risk and shared responsibility: the ethics of male contraceptives ​

This article discusses the development of male contraceptives and the effect it might have on relationships and family planning. The article also explores how to ethically approach this new technology. Some important points are that this technology may change the roles of partners in preventing pregnancy and that it's important to consider both partners' perspectives.

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​Are there any interesting publications about non-hormonal, reversible male contraception that you'd like to see featured? Please reach out to us and share your thoughts!