Preclinical evaluation of magainin-A as a contraceptive antimicrobial agent

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 81; no. 5; pp. 1357 - 1365
• Main Authors: Clara, Aranha, Manjramkar, Dhananjay D., Reddy, Venkatarami K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - pharmacology; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Macaca radiata; Male; Menstrual Cycle - drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; microbicide; Sperm motility; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatocidal Agents - pharmacology; spermicidal activity; vaginal contraceptive; vaginal contraceptive; Sperm motility; spermicidal activity; microbicide; Human; Spermatozoa; Motility; Contraceptive; Germinal cell; Antimicrobial agent
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.09.073

To evaluate the safety and contraceptive efficacy of magainin-A in monkeys. Controlled laboratory study. Department of Immunology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, India. Male and female bonnet monkeys ( Macaca radiata). Animals were treated intravaginally with 1 mg of magainin-A before attempted conception, as well as daily for 14 days to assess local and systemic toxicity. Suitability of magainin-A for the control of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Complete sperm immobilization was observed within 20 seconds after the exposure to magainin-A (800–1,000 μg) in vitro. Intravaginal administration of 1 mg of magainin-A blocked conception in monkeys. When magainin-A was administered intravaginally for 14 consecutive days, no treatment-related abnormalities were observed in menstrual cycle length, vaginal epithelial cell morphology, and hematologic/serum biochemical profiles. The peptide inhibited the growth of sexually transmitted infection–causing pathogens but not HIV-1 and HIV-2. Magainin-A can be used as an effective and safe intravaginal contraceptive compound with additional protection against sexually transmitted infection–causing pathogens.