Finding hormones that control male fertility

A type of sex hormone in humans has just been discovered in a new study. The researchers deduced that this naturally occurring substance could be the basis for the production of a male birth control pill.

GnIH hormone is expected to pave the way for the study of a birth control therapy in men.Photo: National Geographic.

Gonadotropin-secreting hormone (GnIH) was first identified in birds about a decade ago. Gonadotrophin is a hormone that stimulates the gonads. Recently GnIH has been discovered in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus produces hormones to regulate sleep, sexual activity, body temperature and many other functions.

GnIH inhibits the activity of other hormones such as stimulating hormone release gonadotropin (GnRH). GnRH has a very important function, it stimulates the release of additional hormones, stimulates sexual activity and reproduction of the body.

Therefore, scientists believe that birth control pills based on this newly discovered hormone may one day become a reality.

"This is the kind of hormone we need to control ," said George Bentley, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, co-author of the study. But he added: 'We don't understand enough about this hormone.'

Louis DePaolo, head of the Department of Reproductive Sciences at the US National Institutes of Health, also said that 'it's too early' to consider a fertility control drug in men.

GnIH has been known in the animal body since 2000 and it has also been discovered that in humans the GnIH gene exists. But until now it has been determined whether the human body actually produces this hormone and how its role remains unknown.

However, researchers extracted GnIH from five human hypothalamus regions and demonstrated that it affects neurons that produce GnRH, a hormone that promotes reproduction.

Hormone can become a weapon against cancer?

Although GnIH has not been proven to be used to produce a birth control drug in men, research confirms that GnIH may become part of a treatment to kill sensitive tumors. With hormones, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Today, people use synthetic substances to prevent GnRH - reproductive hormone. But these substances cause side effects such as allergies, weight gain .

Researchers believe that GnIH, the newly discovered hormone, may slow down the activity of the natural reproductive system - without causing side effects.

But first 'we have to understand exactly how this hormone works in the human body and how they work together with other hormones,' said George Bentley, co-author of the study.

'We have a long way to go, but I think it's important to discover this hormone exists in the human body.'

DePaolo of the US National Institutes of Health, who is not involved in the study, agrees: 'We know where GnIH can work. But we don't know how important it is and don't know its true role. "