Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32998760›Full record

ArticleReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2020

Sperm impairing microbial factor: potential candidate for male contraception.

Aditi Chauhan, Deepali Thaper, Vijay Prabha

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 38% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The impact ofInternational journal of reproductive biomedicine · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Aditi ChauhanDepartment of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
Deepali ThaperDepartment of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
Vijay PrabhaDepartment of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India. satishvijay11@gmail.com.
Panjab University · IN

Funding

Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India grant no DST/Inspire Fellowship/2015/IF150184
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite significant advances in contraceptive options for women, vasectomy and condoms are the only options available for male contraception. Due to this limitation, the burden of contraception resides on the shoulders of females only. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a safe, effective and reversible method of contraception for men. Amongst the alternative approaches, microbial derived products are gaining attention of the scientific world to combat unintended pregnancies. Earlier in our laboratory, sperm impairing microbial factor (Sperm immobilization factor) isolated from Staphylococcus aureus has shown excellent contraceptive efficacy in female mice. Keeping this in mind, the present study was carried out to exploit the sperm immobilization factor (SIF) as potential male contraceptive using vas deferens for administration in mouse model.

methodsSIF (10, 50, 100 or 200 μg) was inoculated in the lumen of right vas deferens whereas the left vas deferens served as control. The mice were sacrificed at Day 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 60 and 90 after inoculation and the results in terms of change in body weight, seminal parameters, Tissue somatic indices (TSI), haematological parameters, serum level of testosterone, lipid peroxidation and histology were studied. In order to ratify the SIF induced azoospermia SIF (200 μg) was administered with different doses viz. 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 μg of SIF binding receptor extracted from mouse spermatozoa.

resultsThe weight profile studies of all the experimental groups showed no significant change in the initial and final body weight. In case of seminal parameters, the results revealed that right vas deferens treated with SIF showed azoospermia and with 200 μg of SIF it persisted up to 90 days. TSI of reproductive organs and non-reproductive organs showed no significant change in all the experimental groups. The haematological indices were found to be unaltered throughout the course of investigation however significant decrease in testosterone level was observed in the treated mice. The treatment also affected the oxidative status of the testis. Further, histological studies revealed hypospermatogenesis and late maturation arrest on treated side whereas the left side which served as control showed normal tissue histology. SIF induced azoospermia was ameliorated when administered with 400 μg of SIF binding receptor from mouse spermatozoa.

conclusionSIF, when administered via intra vas deferens route, could lead to complete azoospermia. Therefore, it could be considered as a potential male contraceptive.

Indexed as

Contraceptive Agents, MaleAnimalsContraceptionMaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CSpermatozoaSperm CountSperm Immobilizing AgentsSperm MotilityStaphylococcus aureusContraceptive Agents, MaleSperm Immobilizing AgentsAzoospermia and contraceptionSperm immobilization factorVas deferens

Identifiers

PMID32998760
PMCPMC7526221
OpenAlexW3091111143

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.