title: A single injection of kisspeptin-54 temporarily increases luteinizing hormone pulsatility in healthy women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kisspeptin is a novel hypothalamic peptide which stimulates endogenous gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. A single subcutaneous bolus injection of kisspeptin-54 increases circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in women, but its acute effects on LH pulsatility are not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a single subcutaneous (sc) injection of kisspeptin-54 administration on LH pulsatility in healthy female volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six healthy female adult volunteers underwent 10-minute blood sampling for serum LH measurement for 8 h during the follicular phase of menstrual cycle. Sc bolus injection of saline or kisspeptin-54 (0·15, 0·30 or 0·60 nmol/kg) was administered 4 h after commencing the study. A previously described, blinded deconvolution method was used to detect LH pulses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean number of LH pulses was increased significantly following 0·30 and 0·60 nmol/kg kisspeptin-54 when compared with saline (mean increase in number of LH pulses per 4 h, following injection: -0·17 ± 0·54, saline; +2·33 ± 0·56, 0·30 nmol/kg kisspeptin-54, P < 0·05 vs saline; +2·33 ± 0·80, 0·60 nmol/kg kisspeptin-54, P < 0·05 vs saline). LH pulse secretory mass increased following injection of 0·60 nmol/kg in five of six subjects, but the mean change in all subjects was non-significant when compared with saline (mean increase in pulse secretory mass in IU/l following injection: +0·35 ± 0·40, saline; +2·61 ± 1·17, 0·60 nmol/kg kisspeptin-54, P = 0·10 vs saline).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single injection of kisspeptin-54 temporarily stimulates the number of LH pulses in healthy women. Further studies are required to investigate the therapeutic potential of kisspeptin-54 injection to restore LH pulsatility in patients with reproductive disorders caused by impaired GnRH secretion.
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, UK.
authors: C N
authors: CN
authors: Jayasena
authors: A N
authors: AN
authors: Comninos
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Veldhuis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Misra
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Abbara
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Izzi-Engbeaya
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Donaldson
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Ghatei
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Bloom
authors: W S
authors: WS
authors: Dhillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone