01/07/2025
Many people think semen is made up of just s***m cells, but it is actually a complex fluid with over 200 different proteins. These proteins serve many purposes like protecting s***m, helping them move, and even preparing the female body for fertilization. Semen also contains sugar, enzymes, zinc, and other chemicals that support reproduction. Scientists discovered this by using advanced tools to study its structure and function more closely.
Knowing what is inside semen helps researchers better understand fertility, disease prevention, and how the body works during reproduction. Some of these proteins even affect how the immune system responds, which is important when studying sexually transmitted infections. This discovery shows that even the smallest parts of our body can be incredibly complex. Research like this helps improve medical treatments and support sexual health education.
Sources:
Pilch, B., & Mann, M. (2006). Large-scale and high-confidence proteomic analysis of human seminal plasma. Genome Biology, 7(5), R40.
Milardi, D., Grande, G., Vincenzoni, F., Giampietro, A., Messana, I., & Pontecorvi, A. (2013). Proteomics of human seminal plasma: Identification of biomarker candidates for fertility and infertility disorders. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 11(1), 1–9.
Jodar, M., Soler-Ventura, A., & Oliva, R. (2017). Semen proteomics and male infertility. Journal of Proteomics, 162, 125–134.