Immunolocalization of humanin in human sperm and testis.
Moretti. Elena E; Giannerini. Valentina V; Rossini. Lara L; Matsuoka. Masaaki M; Trabalzini. Lorenza L; Collodel. Giulia G
Key Findings
- Humanin is localized in the midpiece of normal sperm and in cytoplasmic residues/tail of abnormal sperm
- Humanin is also found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of developing sperm cells (spermatocytes and spermatids)
- The authors propose humanin’s anti‑apoptotic properties could help maintain sperm quality
Practical Outcomes
- At this stage there’s no direct protocol to follow—humanin isn’t a supplement you can dose for better fertility. The finding may eventually lead to a test that uses humanin levels to gauge sperm health, but for now it’s mainly a basic science insight.
Summary
Researchers found that the tiny protein humanin is naturally present in human sperm and testicular cells, especially in the middle part of healthy sperm and in abnormal parts of defective sperm. This suggests humanin might help protect sperm from dying, but the study only maps where it is, without testing any treatments.
Abstract
We have discovered, by immunocytochemistry and immunoelectronmicroscopy, that humanin (HN) is expressed in human ejaculated sperm and testis. In sperm, the HN immunolabeling pattern depends on sperm morphology; in particular, HN is mainly localized in the midpiece of sperm in semen samples with normal morphology and in cytoplasmic residues and entire tail in those with abnormal morphology. We also found HN in the cytoplasm and nucleus of spermatocytes and spermatids and in experimentally uncoiled chromatin of mature ejaculated sperm. Because it has been established that HN has antiapoptotic properties, it is reasonably hypothesized that HN may play an important role in preventing apoptosis in human sperm and testis. Thus, the examination of the HN localization in normal and abnormal sperm could be proposed as an auxiliary test to better define sperm quality.
Study Information
pubmed
2010
2010-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.04.075
44
15