The world of medicine would be more than happy and relieved if the research published that the Estrogen applied to the human penis could block the spread of HIV in the male.It can definitely bring some hope to alleviate the burden of AIDS. The news quoted by Science Daily, suggests that University of Melbourne in its breakthrough study has established that topical oestrogen could help prevent HIV infection by blocking entry of the virus into the human penis.
The result of the study to be published in PLoS ONE journal June 4 reveals that application of oestrogen to the human penis increases the thickness of the natural keratin layer on the skin, which could prevent HIV from infecting the male. The epithelium of the human penis is richly supplied with oestrogen receptors suggesting it could respond to topical oestrogen.
Dr Andrew Pask from the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne analysed the tissue samples from 12 foreskins and made the discovery. “This suggested that oestrogen could induce a thickening of the keratin layer of the foreskin epidermis in the same way as it acts in the vagina,” said Dr Pask.