Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide product of the KISS1 gene, recognized as the master regulator of the reproductive axis within the hypothalamus. Its pulsatile release is essential for stimulating the secretion of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which subsequently drives the pituitary release of LH and FSH. Insufficient or dysregulated Kisspeptin signaling leads directly to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
Origin
Discovered through cancer research where the KISS1 gene was identified as a metastasis suppressor, its crucial role in reproduction was identified later through genetic studies of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The term’s origin is therefore twofold, reflecting its initial unexpected discovery and its subsequent critical role in reproductive endocrinology.
Mechanism
Kisspeptin neurons project directly onto GnRH-producing neurons in the hypothalamus, exerting a potent excitatory effect on GnRH release frequency and amplitude. This signaling is modulated by steroid feedback, meaning estrogen and testosterone levels fine-tune Kisspeptin’s activity to maintain cyclical or tonic hormone release patterns. Its mechanism is fundamentally upstream, initiating the entire cascade of gonadal hormone production.
Targeted peptide therapies precisely recalibrate the HPG axis, offering a pathway to restore reproductive function disrupted by modern lifestyle influences.
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