Testicular zap may stop sperm

From BBC News

A dose of ultrasound to the testicles can stop the production of sperm, according to researchers investigating a new form of contraception.

A study on rats published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology showed that sound waves could be used to reduce sperm counts to levels that would cause infertility in humans.

Researchers described ultrasound as a "promising candidate" in contraception.

However, far more tests are required before it could be used.

(Read full story here)

Parkinson's skin cell reprogrammed into stem cell

From BBC News

A Oxford University team is reprogramming skin cells from those with Parkinson's into stem cells, to study the disease.

Stem cells have the ability to become any cell in the human body.


They will then grow these into nerve cells to create limitless quantities of cells to use in experiments and to test new drugs.

Nerve cells die in the brains of people with Parkinson's and this research funded by Parkinson's UK, hopes to investigate why.

(Read full story here)