title: A role for kisspeptins in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion in the mouse.
abstract: Kisspeptins are products of the KiSS-1 gene, which bind to a G protein-coupled receptor known as GPR54. Mutations or targeted disruptions in the GPR54 gene cause hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in humans and mice, suggesting that kisspeptin signaling may be important for the regulation of gonadotropin secretion. To examine the effects of kisspeptin-54 (metastin) and kisspeptin-10 (the biologically active C-terminal decapeptide) on gonadotropin secretion in the mouse, we administered the kisspeptins directly into the lateral cerebral ventricle of the brain and demonstrated that both peptides stimulate LH secretion. Further characterization of kisspeptin-54 demonstrated that it stimulated both LH and FSH secretion, at doses as low as 1 fmol; moreover, this effect was shown to be blocked by pretreatment with acyline, a potent GnRH antagonist. To learn more about the functional anatomy of kisspeptins, we mapped the distribution of KiSS-1 mRNA in the hypothalamus. We observed that KiSS-1 mRNA is expressed in areas of the hypothalamus implicated in the neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion, including the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, the periventricular nucleus, and the arcuate nucleus. We conclude that kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling may be part of the hypothalamic circuitry that governs the hypothalamic secretion of GnRH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Biophysics Health Sciences Building, G-424 School of Medicine University of Washington, Box 357290, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington 98195-7290, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gottsch
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Popa
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Acohido
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seminara
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D059648:Kisspeptins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C491407:Kiss1 protein, mouse; C492248:Kiss1r protein, mouse; D059648:Kisspeptins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone