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RARα pathway operates in cell development eg of blood cells and in apoptosis, implicated in some cancers.

Long-term safety seems doubtful. Offspring could be affected. In a rational world there would be no volunteers for the trials.

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Could also positively affect offspring if spermatogenesis is blocked at the right step, stopping the gamete progenitors from accumulating somatic mutation. The majority of rare genetic diseases arising from de-novo mutations has its origin in the fathers gamete formation (with increasing risk (i.e accumulation of mutations) at older paternal age). Maybe this could block/slow down this process (i.e cell division) and in 20 years all males that still may want to have kids will take a RARα blocker.

Wouldn't it be simpler to bank sperm when a man turns, say, 18 rather than take a risk on what an unproven medication might or might not do?

Does this actually stop spermatogenesis, or does it just result in non-viable gamete production?

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