HEALTH
A plant extract, traditionally used by African warriors as a heart-stopping poison on their arrows, may be used to develop birth control pill for men, a study in mice suggests.
A plant extract, traditionally used by African warriors as a heart-stopping poison on their arrows, may be used to develop birth control pill for men, a study in mice suggests.
Women have many options for oral contraceptives that are safe, effective and reversible, but despite decades of research, men have none.
Two types of African plants make the poisonous compound called ouabain. Mammals also produce it in their bodies, though at lower levels that are thought to help control blood pressure; doctors sometimes prescribe small doses of the compound to treat heart attack patients.
Ouabain disrupts the passage of sodium and calcium ions through the membrane protein, which are are found in cell membranes and are made up of protein subunits.
Prior clinical studies have shown that ouabain curbs fertility in men. However, ouabain itself is not an option as a contraceptive because of the risk of heart damage.
Researchers, including those from University of Minnesota in the US, set out to design ouabain analogues that are far more likely to bind to the alpha4 protein in sperm than to subunits found in heart tissue.
By removing a sugar group from ouabain and also replacing its lactone group with a triazole group, researchers created a derivative that is particularly good at zeroing in on alpha4 in sperm cells in rats.
Once bound, it interferes with the cells' ability to swim, which is essential to its role in fertilising an egg, researchers said. The compound had no toxicity in rats.
The contraceptive effect should be reversible because alpha4 is only found on mature sperm cells.
That means sperm cells produced after stopping treatment with the ouabain derivative should not be affected, researchers said.
Amid linkup rumours with Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur shares cryptic note: 'Our journey is...'
Champions Trophy: PCB to seek clarity from ICC after BCCI refuses to send Indian team to Pakistan
JEE Main 2025 preparation: IIT Kanpur launches FREE 45-day online course; check details
KL Rahul breaks silence on LSG exit in IPL, says, ‘I wanted to go…’
Khushi Kapoor wears bracelet with rumoured boyfriend Vedang Raina's name, see viral photo
Meet man who leads Rs 243890 crore company, lost Rs 21735 crore in one day after...
IND vs SA: Varun Chakravarthy takes 5-wicket-haul but enters THIS unwanted record in 2nd T20I
Sustainability Takes Center Stage in US Manufacturing with Leader Viralsinh Solanki at the Forefront
How to Crack the CTET Exam in 1st Attempt?
'Trump visits India': Man perfectly mimics Donald Trump's 'love' for India, watch viral video
Manipur: 11 suspected militants killed in gunfight with security forces in Jiribam
Ram Gopal Varma booked for offensive posts against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Will MrBeast make a video with Virat Kohli? World's biggest YouTuber drops massive hint
This cricketer once walked out to bat with an aluminium bat against England, refused to...
Bigg Boss 18: Rajat Dalal shuts down Vivian Dsena, says 'tera naukar thodi hoon'
Meet actor who cheated on wife with multiple women, got divorced, remarried same woman but...
Aryan to Anaya: Ex-Indian cricketer, coach's son undergoes sex change surgery
Shillong Teer Result OUT for November 11, 2024: First and second round Monday lottery results here
How US Vice President-elect JD Vance found love in Indian-origin Usha Chilukuri, know their story
Maruti Suzuki launches new Dzire: Check price, features of Tata Tiago, Honda Amaze rival
Sebi’s Rs 25 crore penalty plea against Mukesh Ambani dismissed by SC in THIS case
Big blow to former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna as SC denies bail in rape case
6,6,6,6,6,4,4,4,4,4: Shubman Gill's MASSIVE 268 runs in Ranji against...
Berjis Desai’s crime thriller “Murder at the Racecourse” keeps you on the edge
'We went totally wrong...': Rohit Shetty opens up on casting Arjun Kapoor in Singham Again
Shah Rukh Khan's Marjaani gets BTS makeover, watch Jungkook, V, Suga's viral dance
'India's finest': Netizens pour in emotional tributes as Vistara readies for last flight today
Vistara to make last flight today before Air India merger, all you need to know
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal offers job to X user who suggested THIS BIG change
What is Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani's annual salary? Know all about his net worth
Veteran actor Delhi Ganesh cremated with Air Force honours, here's why
'We got the...': Germany grooves to Marathi song Taambdi Chamdi, netizens go berserk; WATCH
Kamal Hassan asks fans to not call him 'Ulaganayagan', says 'this decision comes from....'
'I fell and it went...': Vijay Deverakonda REACTS after video of him falling down stairs goes viral
BIG update on Rohit Sharma's participation in 1st Test against Australia, he is all set to…
Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as 51st Chief Justice of India
Ajay Devgn spills the beans on his 14-year-old son Yug's love life, says 'he is not afraid....'
11/11: Why November 11 is a good day for manifestation? Know how, when you can manifest today
Onion prices rise to Rs 80 per kg: Check rates in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai
Guru Purab Bank Holiday November 15: Are banks open or closed on Guru Nanak Jayanti?
Meet Indian genius, world's youngest female Chartered Accountant who secured AIR 1, she is from...
Delhi continues to choke amid rising air pollution, AQI breaches 350...
Avatar 3: New posters of James Cameron's film feature fire tribe, stunning visuals go viral
This country lets male tourists marry women for a few days due to....
Maharashtra polls: Congress suspends seven more rebel candidates
Meet man who quit high-paying job in US, then built Rs 150 crore company in India, his business is…
Viral video: Little girl wins heart with adorable dance to 'aayi nai' song, watch
Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding cake slice sold in auction at this SHOCKING price
Viral video: Woman's sizzling dance to 'tere liye' leaves internet drooling, watch
Meet man who leads Rs 185985 crore company as CEO, son of Indian billionaire, he is...
'We don't encourage...': Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal launches new feature 'Food Rescue' to reduce...