Gene therapy may offer surgery-free birth control for cats
Cats may be adored by humans for their cuteness, but they hold a darker reputation among birds and small mammals. With billions of these creatures falling victim to cats each year, it's no surprise they are skilled hunters. Until now, invasive surgery was the only option for spaying cats. Now, a new non-surgical contraception method offers new hope to control the cat population.
What drives the need for cat birth control?
Domestic cats in the United States are responsible for the deaths of an estimated four billion birds and a staggering 22 billion small mammals annually. In India and elsewhere too there's a similar situation. These numbers surpass the impact of human activities such as accidental poisoning and habitat destruction. Addressing this issue is crucial for safeguarding the health of our natural ecosystems.
What's the issue with the common birth control process?
The commonly used solution to address cat overpopulation is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR). However, it is important to recognize that TNR is not a simple three-step process. It involves capturing the cats, administering anesthesia, performing invasive surgery, allowing for recovery, and finally releasing them. Furthermore, it requires the expertise of a veterinarian, significantly limiting the number of individuals who can participate and assist in this process.
New process offers to make it less painful for cats
But now researchers have discovered a promising method that could surpass the complexity of TNR. The breakthrough lies in a single, convenient injection that could make a significant difference. A recent publication in the prestigious journal Nature Communications presents compelling evidence for this simple yet effective spay tactic. It presents a less distressing approach to cat population control.
'A relief for me as a cat owner'
"The idea of sterilizing cats without subjecting them to surgery is truly intriguing. If there's a way to protect their health and prevent overpopulation without invasive procedures, it would be a relief for me as a responsible cat owner," says Kapil Patwardhan, founder of Floof.
This new contraceptive innovation stems from lab discovery
David Pépin, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and his lab discovered this contraceptive gene therapy. They researched a hormone found in ovarian follicles, which supports the development of mammalian egg cells. To better understand its role, they injected female mice with the gene responsible for producing this hormone, essentially giving the mice an extra dose of the naturally occurring hormone.
How they came up with the idea
Pépin, who served as both a co-senior and corresponding author of the study, expressed his astonishment in an interview with CNN, stating, "Much to our surprise, it essentially shut down most ovarian activity in rodents and made them completely infertile." Reflecting on this intriguing development, Pépin pondered, "We thought, well, this is a very interesting tool, but what can we use it for?"
'Just a matter of applying this to a new species'
Motivated to advance their research, Pépin and his team discovered an opportunity through the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, which offered grants for non-surgical spaying research. Pépin explained, "We had a tool that we knew worked in rodents, and potentially could work in these species. So it was just a matter of applying this to a new species."
So, what's the next step?
Pépin mentioned that he, along with the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, has plans to meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming year. The purpose is to discuss the subsequent phases of thorough testing for this therapy. If the therapy receives approval, the team will face the challenge of scaling up production to meet the demand for millions of injections.
