Date:24/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012459780600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Clinical trials on injectible contraceptive extended

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: Phase III clinical trials of Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG), the indigenously developed intra-vasal injectible contraceptive for males, that commenced in four States last year, has been extended to six more States this year.

The contraceptive developed by S.K. Guha of the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, as an alternative for non-scalpel vasectomy (which men hesitate to undergo) has been tested successfully on primates, Deputy Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) R.S. Sharma told reporters on Wednesday.

The ICMR, said Dr. Sharma, has also formed a task force to study ‘hazards of environmental pollution and changing lifestyle on human reproduction’ against the backdrop of the drop in fertility levels worldwide.

The study would provide data on the extent of the prevalence of infertility in India, he said, explaining that use of banned pesticides and late marriages were among the major causes.

Impact of mobile phone

As advised by the Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, the ICMR would study the impact of mobile phone usage on human health.

The protocol being developed would assess the impact of radio frequency variations due to use of mobile phones on reproductive, cardiovascular, immunological, neurological and cell cycle systems of human body, he said.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural of the 26th National Symposium on Reproductive Biology and Comparative Endocrinology at Holy Cross College, Dr. Sharma elaborated on the key factors determining male and female fertility and the solution in the form of Assisted Reproductive Technology, which, he said, provides hopes to not only infertile couples but also fertile couples to have healthy children.

The focal theme of the symposium held under the auspices of the Society for Reproductive Biology and Comparative Endocrinology (SRBCE), India, is ‘Potentials of translational research in reproductive biology and endocrinology for Healthcare Management’.

The themes include immunology, molecular genetics, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, bioactive molecule research and molecular endocrinology.

Dean, Faculty of Science, M.S. University, Baroda, A.V. Ramachandran, inaugurated the symposium in the presence of Principal Sr. Sarguna, president of SRBCE M.A. Akbarsha and secretary M.M. Aruldhas.