Endocrine Abstracts

Kiss1 neurons are essential elements in the central pathways controlling the reproductive axis. In rodents, two major hypothalamic populations of Kiss1 neurons exist, in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and in the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle (RP3V). The majority of ARC Kiss1 neurons express two others neuropeptides, neurokinin B (NKB; encoded by Tac2) and dynorphin (Dyn); hence, this population has been named KNDy. Yet, NKB-only and Kiss1-only neurons are also...

Reproduction is tightly coupled to body energy and metabolic status. GnRH neurons, the final output pathway for the brain control of reproduction, directly or indirectly receive and integrate multiple signals, including metabolic cues regulating reproductive function. Yet, the molecular underpinnings of such phenomenon remain largely unfolded. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a fundamental cellular sensor that becomes activated in conditions of energy deficit, has a key ro...

GnRH neurons are the final output of the brain controlling reproduction. These neurons receive information from multiple central and peripheral signals, ranging from gonadal steroids to metabolic cues and brain neuropeptides, to regulate their activity. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an intracellular sensor, activated by energy deficiency, involved in the regulation of the cellular and whole-body energy homeostasis. Previous in vitro studies suggested the part...