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Epigenetic targets

Towards a male contraceptive?

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 11, page 750 (2012)Cite this article

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Matzuk et al. investigated the spermatogenic actions of a small-molecule inhibitor (JQ1) of the testis-specific bromodomain-containing protein BRDT, which is essential for chromatin remodelling during spermatogenesis. Treatment of mice with JQ1 — via intraperitoneal injection — reduced seminiferous tubule area and testis size as well as the number and motility of spermatozoa without affecting hormone levels. Furthermore, JQ1 caused a complete yet reversible contraceptive effect in treated mice. This suggests that BRDT modulators such as JQ1 (which also binds BRD4) could serve as contraceptive agents.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Matzuk, M. M. et al. Small-molecule inhibition of BRDT for male contraception. Cell 150, 673–684 (2012)

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  1. Charlotte Harrison
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Harrison, C. Towards a male contraceptive?. Nat Rev Drug Discov 11, 750 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3861

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