Humanin ameliorates diabetes-induced testicular damage in a streptozotocin-induced mouse model.

Hekim MG, Kaya Tektemur N, Ozcan M

Experimental physiology12 Jul 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID42438323PMCIDPMC13395047DOI10.1113/ep093912PepBankPUB-42438323

Summary

Diabetes mellitus is a major metabolic disorder closely associated with oxidative stress and male reproductive dysfunction. Humanin, a mitochondria-derived peptide, has been reported to exert cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects in various disease models; however, its role in diabetes-induced testicular damage remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of humanin on oxidative stress parameters in seminal vesicle fluid and histopathological alterations in testicular tissue in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group). Diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal administration of STZ (150 mg/kg). Humanin (4 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 15 days following diabetes induction. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and glutathione (GSH) levels in seminal vesicle fluid were measured using ELISA. Testicular tissues were evaluated histopathologically and histomorphometrically. STZ-induced diabetes resulted in a significant decrease in TAS and GSH levels and an increase in TOS levels in seminal vesicle fluid (P < 0.05). Humanin treatment significantly increased TAS and GSH levels while reducing TOS levels compared to the STZ group (P < 0.05). Histopathological analysis demonstrated seminiferous tubule degeneration, germ cell loss, interstitial oedema, and vascular congestion in diabetic mice, whereas these alterations and associated histomorphometric abnormalities were significantly ameliorated following humanin treatment. Humanin attenuated diabetes-induced oxidative imbalance and testicular histopathological damage in STZ-induced diabetic mice. These findings suggest that humanin may exert protective effects against diabetes-associated testicular injury. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and validate these findings in broader experimental settings.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In STZ-induced diabetic mice, humanin significantly increased total antioxidant status in seminal vesicle fluid versus the STZ group.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, humanin raised antioxidant levels in seminal fluid compared with untreated diabetic mice.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseTotal antioxidant status in seminal vesicle fluid
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Balb/C mice
Comparator
STZ group
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 15 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Humanin treatment significantly increased TAS and GSH levels while reducing TOS levels compared to the STZ group (P < 0.05).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4243832301
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In STZ-induced diabetic mice, humanin significantly increased glutathione levels in seminal vesicle fluid versus the STZ group.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, humanin raised glutathione levels in seminal fluid compared with untreated diabetic mice.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
IncreaseGlutathione in seminal vesicle fluid
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Balb/C mice
Comparator
STZ group
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 15 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Humanin treatment significantly increased TAS and GSH levels while reducing TOS levels compared to the STZ group (P < 0.05).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4243832302
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In STZ-induced diabetic mice, humanin reduced total oxidant status in seminal vesicle fluid versus the STZ group.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, humanin lowered oxidant levels in seminal fluid compared with untreated diabetic mice.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseTotal oxidant status in seminal vesicle fluid
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Balb/C mice
Comparator
STZ group
Outcome group
Oxidative stress · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 15 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Humanin treatment significantly increased TAS and GSH levels while reducing TOS levels compared to the STZ group (P < 0.05).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4243832303
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In STZ-induced diabetic mice, humanin significantly ameliorated seminiferous tubule degeneration, germ cell loss, interstitial oedema and vascular congestion.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, humanin reduced testicular tissue damage such as tubule degeneration and germ cell loss.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseTesticular histopathology
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Balb/C mice
Comparator
STZ group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 15 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Histopathological analysis demonstrated seminiferous tubule degeneration, germ cell loss, interstitial oedema, and vascular congestion in diabetic mice, whereas these alterations and associated histomorphometric abnormalities were significantly ameliorated following humanin treatment.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4243832304
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In STZ-induced diabetic mice, humanin significantly ameliorated histomorphometric abnormalities of the testis.
In plain wordsIn diabetic mice, humanin reduced measured structural abnormalities in testicular tissue.
Peptide
Humanin
Outcome
DecreaseTesticular histomorphometric abnormalities
Study
mousen = 20
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Balb/C mice
Comparator
STZ group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
4 mg/kg · intraperitoneal · 15 daysAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
these alterations and associated histomorphometric abnormalities were significantly ameliorated following humanin treatment.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Humanin (HN), STZ, and STZ+HN (n = 10 per group).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4243832305

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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