UWC researchers find crystal meth harms male fertility
Researchers at the department of medical bioscience conducted a study that focused on Sertoli cells, which play a critical role in nurturing sperm in the testicles.
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CAPE TOWN - Researchers from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have found that the drug crystal meth or tik harms male fertility, even after short term use.
Researchers at the department of medical bioscience conducted a study that focused on Sertoli cells, which play a critical role in nurturing sperm in the testicles.
They found that even short-term use of the drug can harm male fertility.
One of the discoveries is how tik weakens the blood-testis barrier. The barrier is vital for keeping harmful substances away from sperm during development.
After crystal meth exposure, this barrier weakens and may allow toxins to reach developing sperm cells, creating further harm.
Head of the study Professor David Fisher said while the country continues to battle tik addiction, the research provides more reasons to avoid the drug.
“Our research shows that it has an effect right up within 24 hours, and we see some long-term effects over 96 hours. So, there’s two parts to the study - the one is an acute study then we looked at our chronic study.”