Research on Physiological Aspects of Reproduction

The objective of this paper was to present a survey of research in physiology of reproduction conducted in many research centers in Latin America. A group led by Roberto E. Mancini at the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Medicine studied the immunologic aspects of human and animal spermatogenesis. Roberto Nicholson at the Universidad El Salvador Buenos Aires was investigating the viability of sperm in the female reproductive tract. In Mendoza Mario H. Burgos studied spermatogenesis. In Brazil Bruno A. Lobo directed a program concerned with immunologic aspects of spermatogenesis using immunofluorescence. Eugenio Chiorboli was experimenting with steroid metabolism. At the University of Bahia Arpad Csapo has been studying the efficacy of long-acting progestogens introduced intramuscularly as contraceptive agents. In Chile at the University of Chile School of Medicine researchers were engaged in experimenting with intrauterine contraception devices. Much of the stimulus for studies in physiology of reproduction in Latin America emanated from the scientific training provided by three world-renowned scientists: Bernardo Houssay of Buenos Aires Argentina; Alejandro Lipschutz of Santiago Chile (reversible sterility in mice by the implantation of 19-norprogesterone); and Hermogenes Alvarez of Montevideo Uruguay (human tubal and uterine activity of IUDs). These pioneers in the field of reproduction had established a tradition of excellence. The general conclusion is that active participation in studies having a direct bearing upon the physiology of reproduction is limited to a very few centers. The number of centers involved should be increased and this increase should extend to nations where few or none exist at the present time. Effort should be concentrated on promising practical clinical applications consistent with the problems germane to the population of the region.