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Kisspeptin System

Meaning

The Kisspeptin System is a critical neuroendocrine pathway centered on the neuropeptide kisspeptin and its cognate receptor, GPR54, primarily located in the hypothalamus of the brain. This system acts as the master switch for the onset of puberty and the central regulator of reproductive function throughout life by controlling the pulsatile release of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH). Kisspeptin neurons integrate metabolic, environmental, and hormonal signals, translating them into the precise GnRH output necessary for normal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Dysfunction in this system is a recognized cause of both delayed puberty and certain forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.