title: Kiss1 mutant placentas show normal structure and function in the mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kisspeptins, encoded by the Kiss1 gene, are a set of related neuropeptides that are required for activation of the mammalian reproductive axis at puberty and to maintain fertility. In addition, kisspeptin signaling via the G-protein coupled receptor GPR54 (KISS1R) has been suggested to regulate human placental formation and correlations have been found between altered kisspeptin levels in the maternal blood and the development of pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have used Kiss1 and Gpr54 mutant mice to investigate the role of kisspeptin signaling in the structure and function of the mouse placenta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of Kiss1 and Gpr54 was confirmed in the mouse placenta but no differences in birth weight were found in mice that had been supported by a mutant placenta during fetal development. Stereological measurements found no differences between Kiss1 mutant and wild-type placentas. Measurement of amino-acid and glucose transport across the Kiss1 mutant placentas at E15.5 days did not reveal any functional defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that mouse placentas can develop a normal structure and function without kisspeptin signaling and can support normal fetal development and growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Herreboudt
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: V R L
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.affiliation: Takeda Cambridge, 418 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Takeda Cambridge, 418 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: whc23@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Colledge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C491407:Kiss1 protein, mouse; C492248:Kiss1r protein, mouse; D059648:Kisspeptins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
keywords: Gpr54/Kiss1r; Kiss1; Kisspeptin; Knock-out mice; Placental transport