Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.36 (hyaluronidase)
 4,606 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

There is a growing demand for men to share the burden of responsibility and risks of contraception because of growing population pressures and the increasing dissatisfaction of women in assuming almost all the risks of adequate contraception. 3 approaches are being used in male contraceptive research: stopping sperm production, blocking sperm transport at the time of intercourse, and altering the quality or capacity of sperm to fertilize. Methods currently in use are based on physically blocking sperm from entering the female reproductive system--vasectomy, condoms, or withdrawal before ejaculation. Current research goal is the development of an effective, reversible, easily used method which neither interferes with libido nor the act of intercourse and is free of any dangerous side effects; for developing countries, added requirements are that the method must be inexpensive and easily distributed. LHRF (luteinizing hormone-releasing factor) agonists are currently being tested. The most extensive trials have involved a super agonist which is about 144 times more powerful than LHRF; however, although a 75-100% sperm reduction is possible with this method, the regime of daily injections may prove inconvenient to potential users, in addition to the unwarranted side effects (impotency, reduced libido, and 'hot flashes' or momentary increases of body temperature). Gossypol is a male pill currently being used in the People's Republic of China. Clinical trials on about 10,000 men revealed a 99.89% effectiveness and a low incidence of mild side effects. In Thailand, research is being conducted on the biochemical processes involved in sperm maturation in the hope of developing sophisticated techniques which would modify these processes and prevent conception from taking place. Another research effort aims to provide contraception precisely at the point where sperm and ovum meet using 2 enzymes (hyaluronidase and acrosin) which play a part in the penetration of sperm through the layers that surround the ovum. Another potential method is the contraceptive vaccine which would have only 1 effect--infertility. Many considerations need to be resolved before the goal of an effective, reversible, safe, and inexpensive male contraceptive is realized.
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PMID:The manly art of contraception. 1233 50