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Liu S et al. · Free radical biology & medicine ·
Mice were exposed to a microgravity model that caused mechanical stress, which damaged their testes and lowered sperm counts. Some of these mice were then given MOTS-c, a peptide made by mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of cells. The researchers measured sperm concentration, looked at the structure of the seminiferous tubules where sperm are made, and counted spermatogonia, the early-stage sperm cells. They also measured markers of oxidative stress and ferroptosis, a form of cell death. The paper reports that mice given MOTS-c had higher sperm counts, more intact tubule structure, and more spermatogonia than mice not given the peptide, and that this protection appeared to work by boosting levels of a protein called SLC7A11, which blocks ferroptosis. The study also found that men with low sperm counts had lower MOTS-c levels in their blood, and that these levels matched semen quality measures.
Compounds