[thechat] What you wear can help you conceive
Hugh Blair
hblair at hotfootmail.com
Thu Apr 3 13:05:17 CST 2003
>From the "What perfume are you wearing, and where?" department:
"Human sperm become excited when exposed to the scent of lily
of the valley, doubling their speed and homing in on the
aroma, a German scientist said on Wednesday.
Hans Hatt, a biology professor at Ruhr University in Bochum,
said knowledge about a newly discovered odor receptor on the
sperm's surface could enable researchers to devise alternative
contraception methods or ways to boost fertility.
"This is the first time sperm has been shown to respond to
smell," Hatt, who said the findings came after three years of
study, told Reuters. "The application of the substances in a
salve to the vaginal area could raise the chance of conceiving."
He said receptors in the sperm's membranes are attracted to
two chemical compounds, cyclamal and bourgeonal, used in the
cosmetics industry to imitate the plant's smell.
Another compound, undecanal, was found to block the attraction
and could be used for contraceptive ends, he added."
http://snurl.com/138s
--
Hugh
More information about the thechat
mailing list