Humanin levels in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa are related to sperm quality.
Rao. M M; Wu. Z Z; Wen. Y Y; Wang. R R; Zhao. S S; Tang. L L
Key Findings
- Humanin is detectable in human seminal plasma and the midpiece of sperm cells
- Higher seminal plasma humanin levels are associated with normal sperm counts and better motility
- Humanin levels in sperm correlate positively with progressive motility and are higher in motile (swim‑up) sperm
Practical Outcomes
- For now, humanin can be considered a potential biomarker for assessing male fertility, but there’s no proven way to increase its levels through supplements or lifestyle changes. Biohackers interested in reproductive health should watch for future studies that test whether boosting humanin (e.g., via mitochondrial support) can improve sperm quality.
Summary
The study found that a tiny protein called humanin is present in semen and on sperm, especially in the part of the sperm that powers movement. Men with healthier sperm had higher humanin levels, and the amount of humanin was linked to how many sperm there were and how well they moved. This suggests humanin might be a marker of sperm quality, but the research doesn’t show how to boost it or use it in a treatment yet.
Abstract
Humanin has reportedly been expressed in testis and spermatozoa, but no study has yet reported its presence in human seminal plasma (SP). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of humanin in human SP and to determine the correlation between humanin levels in SP/spermatozoa and sperm quality. Semen samples for SP/sperm humanin level measurement were collected from 164 patients who attended our andrology clinic for fertility evaluation. The localization of humanin in spermatozoa was evaluated using an immunofluorescence method, and SP/sperm humanin levels were measured with ELISA. Correlations between SP/sperm humanin levels and sperm parameters were analyzed. Humanin was expressed in the midpiece of the spermatozoa. Humanin concentrations in the SP ranged from 24.4 to 285.1 pg/mL, with a median of 89.7 pg/mL. The SP humanin concentrations in patients with normospermia were significantly higher than those in patients with oligospermia (p < 0.001), asthenospermia (p = 0.002), and oligoasthenospermia (p < 0.001). Spearman analysis showed a positive and significant correlation between SP humanin concentration and sperm concentration (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), and progressive sperm motility (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). Sperm humanin level was significantly and positively associated with progressive sperm motility (r = 0.70, p < 0.001). In addition, a significantly higher level of humanin was found in swim-up spermatozoa than in non-swim-up spermatozoa (p = 0.03). Seminal plasma and sperm humanin levels were significantly and positively correlated with sperm quality, especially sperm motility. Further studies of the origin of SP humanin and its role in spermatogenesis should be conducted.
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-03-28T00:00:00.000Z
10.1111/andr.12614
22
43