Study record
Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c targets SLC7A11 to preserve spermatogenesis by suppressing ferroptosis
Liu S, Ru K, Shen YJ et al. · Free Radic Biol Med · 2026
What this study reported
Measured lower serum MOTS-c in men with oligoasthenozoospermia, correlating with semen quality parameters. Reported that in a mechanical stress model in mice, administered MOTS-c was associated with less spermatogenic impairment, lower oxidative stress and less ferroptosis, and that SLC7A11 was identified as a target whose manipulation altered these effects in spermatogonia.
Limitations
Human component is cross-sectional with sample size not reported in the abstract; animal work uses one stress model; mechanistic claims rest largely on cell-level loss- and gain-of-function.
Study record
| Study model | Animal study (in vivo) |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | SeveralMore than one of these is central to the paper (common for reviews). |
| Species | human, mouse |
| System studied | Serum from men with oligoasthenozoospermia; mouse microgravity-style mechanical stress model; spermatogonia with SLC7A11 manipulation |
| Population | men with oligoasthenozoospermia (serum measurements) |
| Design | Case-control serum measurement with controlled animal and cell experiments |
| Sample size as reported | not reported |
| Control group | men with normal semen parameters; untreated stressed mice and cells |
| Route (data field only) | Not reported |
| Endpoints measured | serum MOTS-c levels; semen quality parameters; sperm concentration and seminiferous tubule architecture; oxidative stress and ferroptosis markers; SLC7A11 expression; spermatogonia proliferation |
| Pathways measured | Oxidative stress · Apoptosis · Other |
| Research areas | Reproductive · Mitochondrial biology |
| Evidence tier | C — Animal in vivo |
| Publication types | Journal Article |
Appraisal
Each dimension is recorded separately and never combined into a single score. A study can be well controlled and still tell you little about people.
- Relevance to MOTS-c
- Direct
- Model applicability
- Human
- Sample size
- Not reported
- Controls
- Appropriate
- Outcome validity
- Surrogate
- Support for its own conclusion
- Moderate
Provenance
- Bibliographic fields retrieved from PubMed E-utilities efetch (title, journal, date, authors, DOI) on 2026-11-11.
- Annotated from the published abstract.
- Editorial review: approved (2026-11-11).
- Classification follows the site methodology; the record describes the study, not what MOTS-c does in people.