Decreased testosterone production in males can lead to infertility, characterized by impaired sperm count, motility and viability, as well as reduced libido, underdeveloped testes, and erectile dysfunction. Although there are several treatments and diagnostic tests available today, it is still difficult to identify the actual cause of male infertility in order to receive appropriate treatment. This technology describes osteocalcin, a protein secreted by bone, as a regulator of male fertility. Therefore, osteocalcin could serve as a therapeutic for the treatment of disorders related to male reproduction, including male infertility, low sperm counts, and low testosterone levels, and may also serve as a biomarker to predict and diagnose issues with male fertility.
This technology identifies osteocalcin as a regulator of testosterone production in mammals. Osteocalcin is specifically produced in bone, but it has been shown that mice unable to produce osteocalcin have decreased testosterone levels, decreased testis size, and, as a result, have smaller litters, indicative of impaired male fertility. By treating these mice with osteocalcin, it is possible to increase testosterone levels, testis size, and litter sizes. More specifically, with this method, delivered osteocalcin binds to Leydig cells of the testes, prompting them to increase testosterone production. This in turn promotes an increase in testis size and sperm viability and motility. This treatment is less expensive than current sperm extraction and in vitro fertilization techniques, and is capable of promoting new sperm production, in addition to enhancing sperm motility.
Osteocalcin has been tested as a therapeutic for increasing male fertility using a mouse model.
Tech Ventures Reference: IR 2685
