Endocrine Abstracts

The Kiss1 gene, originally identified as having anti-metastatic properties encodes several overlapping amidated peptides called kisspeptins. Within the last 5 years, kisspeptin signalling has been shown to also play a crucial role in the initiation of puberty and the maintenance of mammalian fertility by signalling through the G-protein coupled receptor GPR54. Five transgenic mouse lines have been generated with mutations in the Gpr54 gene and two lines with muta...

Reproduction is a metabolically-demanding function which is gated by the state of fuel reserves of the organism. Indeed, conditions of metabolic stress and energy unbalance are frequently coupled to disturbed reproductive maturation and/or compromised fertility. The mechanisms whereby the body energy status influences the development and function of the reproductive axis has begun to be deciphered only recently, and seemingly involve a plethora of neuropeptide hormones and met...

Kisspeptin is an undisputed regulator of sexual maturation and reproductive function across mammalian species. Mutations in human patients in either kisspeptin and/or its receptor are rare in number but prismatic in scope and have led to unique genotype/phenotype and structure/function correlations. Mice with targeted deletions of either kisspeptin or its receptor have also contributed greatly to our understanding of the physiology underlying this critical pathway in reproduct...

Kisspeptin, the endogenous ligand of the GPR54 receptor, is a key regulator of reproduction. Inactivating mutations of the GPR54 receptor in mice and humans is associated with a failure of reproductive function. Activating mutations in the GPR54 receptor result in precocious puberty. The endogenous neuropeptide agonist for GPR54, kisspeptin, potently stimulates release of gonadotrophins in rodents and primates.Objective: We determined the effects of elev...