title: The Role of Kisspeptin in the Onset of Puberty and in the Ovulatory Mechanism: A Mini-review.
abstract: The onset of puberty has been a fascinating topic for reproductive endocrinologists for decades; however, its underlying physiological mechanisms have remained elusive until recently. The discovery and understanding of the effects exerted by the peptide hormone kisspeptin have shed light on this research area. This review is aimed to discuss the functions of kisspeptin, with special focus on its role in the onset of puberty and in the ovulatory mechanism. The points under discussion are (1) the characteristics of kisspeptin and its receptor, (2) the relevance of this hormone and its interaction with leptin in the onset of puberty, (3) the role of kisspeptin in the ovulatory mechanism based on its differential expression at hypothalamic nuclei, which is modulated by sex steroid hormones, and (4) the clinical relevance of kisspeptin and its antagonists in new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of various reproductive pathologies. All of this explains the revolution that kisspeptin has caused among researchers working in the field of gynecological endocrinology and reproductive biology.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Bernardo OHiggins, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Santiago, Chile; Reproductive Health Research Institute, Biomedical Division, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: manuel.cortes@ubo.cl.
authors.forename: Manuel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Institute, Biomedical Division, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Institute, Biomedical Division, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Hernán
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rioseco
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Institute, Biomedical Division, Santiago, Chile; Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pablo del Río
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Institute, Biomedical Division, Santiago, Chile; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicerrectoría de Comunicaciones y Educación Continua, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vigil
mesh_terms: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D059648:Kisspeptins; D020738:Leptin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: Estradiol; Kisspeptin; Kisspeptinergic nuclei; Leptin; Ovulation; Puberty; Sex dimorphism