title: The role of the kisspeptin system in regulation of the reproductive endocrine axis and territorial behavior in male side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana).
abstract: The neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptor are essential for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and regulating reproduction. While the role of kisspeptin in regulating the HPG axis in mammals has been well established, little is known about the functional ability of kisspeptins to activate the HPG axis and associated behavior in non-mammalian species. Here we experimentally examined the effects of kisspeptin on downstream release of testosterone and associated aggression and display behaviors in the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). We found that exogenous treatment with kisspeptin resulted in an increase in circulating testosterone levels, castration blocked the kisspeptin-induced increase in testosterone, and testosterone levels in kisspeptin-treated animals were positively related to frequency of aggressive behaviors. This evidence provides a clear link between kisspeptin, testosterone, and aggressive behavior in lizards. Thus, it is likely that kisspeptin plays an important role more broadly in non-mammalian systems in the regulation of reproductive physiology and related behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA.
authors.forename: Lorin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neuman-Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58106, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greives
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA.
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA; The Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5205, USA. Electronic address: sfrench@biology.usu.edu.
authors.forename: Susannah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013731:Territoriality; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D059648:Kisspeptins; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Aggression; Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis; Reptile; Testosterone