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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
09:41
Functional Assessment of Kinesin-7 CENP-E in Spermatocytes Using In Vivo Inhibition, Immunofluorescence and Flow Cytometry
Published on: December 28, 2021
Miglustat has no apparent effect on spermatogenesis in normal men
J K Amory1, C H Muller, S T Page
1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. jamory@u.washington.edu
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|October 28, 2006
Summary
Miglustat, a potential male contraceptive, did not affect sperm concentration, motility, or morphology in a pilot study of healthy men. This contrasts with mouse studies, suggesting species-specific effects on spermatogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Miglustat, a glycosphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitor, causes reversible infertility in mice.
- This effect in mice suggested potential utility for male fertility control in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of miglustat on human spermatogenesis.
- To assess miglustat's effects on sperm parameters and function in normal men.
Main Methods:
- Seven healthy men received miglustat (100 mg orally twice daily) for 6 weeks.
- Seminal fluid analyses assessed sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and acrosome reaction.
- Therapeutic miglustat concentrations were confirmed in serum and seminal plasma.
Main Results:
- Miglustat did not affect sperm concentration, motility, or morphology in five completers.
- No changes in acrosome structure or function were observed.
- Common side effects included gastrointestinal upset and mild weight loss.
Conclusions:
- Oral miglustat does not appear to affect human spermatogenesis, unlike in mice.
- Understanding species-specific mechanisms could lead to novel male fertility control strategies.
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