Find the reason for infertility in men

US scientists have identified a gene that they think may play a decisive role in the final stage of sperm formation. This will explain why some men are infertile.

In the laboratory at the University of North Carolina, researchers found that mice that lacked this gene had significantly fewer sperm and infertility. At the same time, the small amount of sperm they produce also has significant defects.

(Photo: Canada) "Because this gene has a very clear effect on sperm function development, it has the potential to be the target of new research on infertility treatments", Yi Zhang, a professor of biochemistry and physiology at the University Medical School, commented.

1 in 6 American couples have difficulties in having children. Of the 2.6 million unborn children in this country, 30 to 40% of the cases are due to infertile husbands.

Zhang's research focuses on the final stage of sperm cell formation, also known as the spermiogenesis phase. During this phase, DNA is tightly packed into a small sphere at the tip of the sperm, to ensure that it can successfully penetrate the egg.

The mice that lacked the gene responsible for the process produced fewer mature sperm, and most of them had abnormal head shapes and immobile tails.

T. An