Kisspeptin Protein in Seminal Plasma Is Positively Associated with Semen Quality: Results from the MARHCS Study in Chongqing, China.
Zou. Peng P; Wang. Xiaogang X; Chen. Qing Q; Yang. Huan H; Zhou. Niya N; Sun. Lei L; Chen. Hongqiang H; Liu. Jinyi J; Ao. Lin L; Cui. Zhihong Z; Cao. Jia J
Key Findings
- Kisspein levels in seminal plasma are about 60,000 times higher than in blood.
- Each interquartile increase in seminal kisspeptin is associated with a 4.6% rise in sperm concentration and about 7-8% increases in total sperm number and motile sperm.
- Men in the highest quartile of total seminal kisspeptin had roughly 58% more total sperm than those in the lowest quartile.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers focused on reproductive health, measuring seminal kisspeptin could serve as a new marker of sperm quality, but there is no proven supplement or dosage yet. The findings support exploring ways to naturally boost kisspeptin (e.g., through diet or lifestyle) as a potential fertility strategy, though more research is needed before concrete protocols can be recommended.
Summary
The study found that men with higher levels of the hormone kisspeptin in their semen also had better sperm counts and motility, suggesting kisspeptin is linked to male fertility.
Abstract
To study the associations between kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma and blood plasma and semen quality. We conducted a male reproductive health survey in June 2014. A total of 666 volunteers were recruited from colleges in Chongqing, China. All volunteers completed a questionnaire including information on domestic characteristics and some potential confounders. We tested the kisspeptin levels in both blood and seminal plasma. Total seminal kisspeptin was calculated as the concentration of kisspeptin in seminal plasma multiplied by semen volume. Semen samples were tested according to the 2010 World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines. Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to explore the association between kisspeptin concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma and semen quality. Potential confounders that were adjusted for included age, abstinence time, body mass index (BMI), grade, and smoking. The median of kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma was 60,000 times higher than kisspeptin in blood plasma (28.0 × 10<sup>6</sup> pg/ml versus 448.9 pg/ml). Each interquartile range (IQR) of kisspeptin in seminal plasma was associated with a 4.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6%-7.6%) increase in sperm concentration. Each IQR of total kisspeptin was associated with a 7.7% (95% CI: 4.4%-11.0%) increase in total sperm number and a 7.8% (95% CI: 4.0%-11.7%) increase in total motile sperm count. Kisspeptin levels were further classified into quartiles and Q1 was set as the reference level. Subjects in the high total kisspeptin group had 57.5% (95% CI: 33.2%-86.2%) higher total sperm number than the reference group. The positive association between kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma and semen quality supported an important role for the <i>KISS1/GPR54</i> system in male reproductive health. Kisspeptin may be a potential marker of male reproductive health and an alternative strategy for treating infertility.
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
10.1155/2019/5129263
24
32