title: Kisspeptin: a new neuronal target of primer pheromones in the control of reproductive function in mammals.
abstract: Pheromones are known to trigger either short-term behavioral responses, usually referred to as "releaser effects", or more long-term physiological changes, known as "primer effects", which especially affect reproductive function at the level of the gonadotrope axis. The precise mechanisms through which pheromones interact with the gonadotrope axis in the hypothalamus is not fully known. We propose that the neuropeptide Kisspeptin, could be a specific target of primer pheromones, allowing these pheromones to modulate the gonadotrope axis and GnRH activity. This emerging hypothesis is discussed in the context of puberty acceleration in female mice and the male effect in female ungulates (sheep or goat). These examples have been chosen to illustrate the diversity of the reproductive contexts in mammals and potential mechanisms affected by primer effects at the level of the gonadotrope axis.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jouhanneau
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szymanski
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Arsène
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ella
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D059648:Kisspeptins; D010675:Pheromones