This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009 was awarded "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase". Telomeres (caps of DNA at the end of chromosomes) and telomerases (the enzymes that protect them) have been the subject of much attention due to their role in cell ageing and have been likened to a potential “fountain of youth that springs from our chromosomes”.

Meanwhile in Austria, Frank Madeo and colleagues have been tracking down a different route to a longer (and more enjoyable?) life: sex, or rather, exposure to sperm. They found that exposure to the chemical compound spermidine suppresses ageing and enhances longevity in yeast, flies, worms, mice and human immune cells. Spermidine is found in human tissues in varying amounts, but largest quantities are present in semen. It was previously known that spermidine is involved in cell maturation and growth and that spermidine concentration decreases as cells age. Whether this decrease was an effect or a cause of cell ageing was unknown. The researchers applied spermidine to yeast and human cells and also supplemented the diet of fruit flies, worms and mice. Briefly, spermidine promoted autophagy — the cellular recycling bin for damaged and potentially harmful molecules — and suppressed ageing-related processes such as necrosis. Depriving cells of spermidine increases the biochemical reactions associated with ageing and leads to shorter lifespans.

Some scientists already think of spermidine as an elixir of life, the holy grail of ageing research. According to the NHS knowledge service and Madeo himself, however, we are still many years away from developing drug applications from this discovery. Importantly, we do not know the effects of spermidine on ageing in whole humans, as opposed to mere cell cultures. In the meantime, there is always the possibility of getting your daily dose of spermidine directly from the natural sources, which also include grapefruit, soya beans and wheat germ. Or as Madeo puts it: “People could try to stay young by eating a lot of grapefruit and having a lot of sex – it might not work but I don't think it would do much harm.” There have also been other studies into the benefits of sex, and in 2002 NewScientist reported that on direct exposure sperm acts as an antidepressant in women.

I myself would suggest research into the optimal administration method. As with any drug there are clearly a variety of ways that sperm could be taken, but don’t worry, the Weevil team is on the case.

Lisa Görs is a Part III Natsci at Trinity Hall who is wondering how much spermidine she needs to live long enough for her Nobel Prize. She is also wondering how many male readers will accidentally leave this article on the breakfast table for their girlfriends to read.

Eisenberg T et al. (2009) Nature Cell Biology 11, 1305 - 1314.