title: The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kisspeptin peptides are critical in human reproductive physiology and are potential therapies for infertility. Kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin release in both male and female rodents. However, few studies have investigated the effects of kisspeptin-10 on gonadotropin release in humans, and none have investigated the effect in women. If kisspeptin is to be useful for treating reproductive disease, its effects in both men and women must be established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of kisspeptin-10 administration on reproductive hormone release in healthy men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravenous bolus kisspeptin-10 was administered to men and women (n = 4-5 per group). Subcutaneous bolus and i.v. infusion of kisspeptin-10 was also administered to female women (n = 4-5 per group). Circulating reproductive hormones were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In healthy men, serum LH and FSH were elevated after i.v. bolus kisspeptin-10, at doses as low as 0.3 and 1.0 nmol/kg, respectively. In healthy women during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, no alterations in serum gonadotropins were observed after i.v. bolus, s.c. bolus, or i.v. infusion of kisspeptin-10 at maximal doses of 10 nmol/kg, 32 nmol/kg, and 720 pmol/kg/min, respectively. In women during the preovulatory phase, serum LH and FSH were elevated after i.v. bolus kisspeptin-10 (10 nmol/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin release in men as well as women during the preovulatory phase of menstrual cycle but fails to stimulate gonadotropin release in women during the follicular phase. The sexual dimorphism of the responsiveness of healthy men and women to kisspeptin-10 administration has important clinical implications for the potential of kisspeptin-10 to treat disorders of reproduction.
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom.
authors: Channa N
authors: CN
authors: Jayasena
authors: Gurjinder M K
authors: GM
authors: Nijher
authors: Alexander N
authors: AN
authors: Comninos
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Abbara
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Januszewki
authors: Meriel L
authors: ML
authors: Vaal
authors: Labosshy
authors: L
authors: Sriskandarajah
authors: Kevin G
authors: KG
authors: Murphy
authors: Zohreh
authors: Z
authors: Farzad
authors: Mohammad A
authors: MA
authors: Ghatei
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Bloom
authors: Waljit S
authors: WS
authors: Dhillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone