Medycyna Wet. 64 (9), 1087-1090, 2008
Klocek-Górka B., Zięba D.A.
Kisspeptin – a neurohormone of the crucial role in reproduction
Kisspeptin is a newly-discovered neurohormone, which is secreted from the hypothalamus. Initially it was thought that kisspeptin takes part in metastasis suppression. However, nowadays it is known that this hormone plays an essential role in the modulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. It has been demonstrated that mutation in the gene encoding kisspeptin’s receptor causes hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and infertility in animals and humans. It is well established that kisspeptin may directly stimulate hypothalamic neurons. In addition, this neurohormone directly affects the pituitary and gonads. In the current review the authors sum up all information about different ways of direct and indirect effects of kisspeptin on reproductive processes and also present a novel insight into the mechanism responsible for the feedback loop of estrogen and androgen in mammals.
Keywords: kisspeptin, reproduction, HPG axis