Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Leptin secretion by human ejaculated spermatozoa.

Saveria Aquila1, Mariaelena Gentile, Emilia Middea

  • 1Department of Pharmaco-Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, Arcavacata-Rende (Cosenza) 87036, Italy. aquisav@libero.it

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 10, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Human sperm secrete leptin, influencing sperm capacitation and metabolism through an autocrine pathway. This finding suggests leptin plays a role in male fertility beyond systemic effects.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Integrated data-independent acquisition and thermal proteome profiling for proteomic characterization of lamotrigine-treated MCF-7 cells.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2026
Same author

Metformin Suppresses Glioblastoma Tumor Growth and Progression Through the AMPK/FoxO3a/Survivin Axis.

Cells·2026
Same author

New Evidence in Male Infertility Diagnosis: The Role of Metabolomics.

Cells·2025
Same author

Anti-progestin therapy targets hallmarks of breast cancer risk.

Nature·2025
Same author

Retraction notice to "17β-Estradiol, Genistein, and 4-Hydroxytamoxifen Induce the Proliferation of Thyroid Cancer Cells through the G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR30" [Mol Pharmacol 70 (2006) 1414-1423].

Molecular pharmacology·2025
Same author

Adipocyte‑derived extracellular vesicles sustain mitochondrial metabolism in breast cancer cells: New insights into the cross‑talk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.

International journal of oncology·2025

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Sperm Physiology

Background:

  • Leptin's role extends beyond its traditional lipostatic model.
  • Leptin is newly identified as being expressed and secreted by human ejaculated spermatozoa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and secretion of leptin in human sperm.
  • To explore the functional role of sperm-derived leptin in sperm capacitation and metabolism.
  • To examine the involvement of the phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in leptin's action on sperm.

Main Methods:

  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence for leptin expression.
  • Radioimmunoassay (RIA) for leptin secretion.
  • PI3K activity assay and Western blot for PI3K/Akt pathway analysis.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Glycogen synthase activity (GSA) assay to evaluate glycogen synthesis.

    • Main Results:

    • Human sperm express and secrete leptin.
    • Leptin enhances cholesterol efflux and protein tyrosine phosphorylation in uncapacitated sperm.
    • Both insulin and leptin stimulate PI3K/Akt pathway and glycogen synthesis in an autocrine manner in uncapacitated sperm.
    • Leptin secretion is significantly different between uncapacitated and capacitated sperm, suggesting a role in capacitation.

    Conclusions:

    • Sperm-derived leptin allows modulation of sperm metabolism independently of systemic leptin.
    • These findings highlight a novel significance of leptin in male fertility and sperm function.