Kisspeptin administration to women: a window into endogenous kisspeptin secretion and GnRH responsiveness across the menstrual cycle
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2012•academic.oup.com
Context: Kisspeptin is the most powerful known stimulus of GnRH-induced LH secretion
across mammalian species. However, the effects of kisspeptin are just being explored, and
the dynamics of kisspeptin responsiveness across the menstrual cycle are incompletely
understood. Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize the effects of kisspeptin
on GnRH secretion in healthy women in different phases of the menstrual cycle. Participants
and Intervention: Ten women in the early follicular phase, three women in the late follicular …
across mammalian species. However, the effects of kisspeptin are just being explored, and
the dynamics of kisspeptin responsiveness across the menstrual cycle are incompletely
understood. Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize the effects of kisspeptin
on GnRH secretion in healthy women in different phases of the menstrual cycle. Participants
and Intervention: Ten women in the early follicular phase, three women in the late follicular …
Context
Kisspeptin is the most powerful known stimulus of GnRH-induced LH secretion across mammalian species. However, the effects of kisspeptin are just being explored, and the dynamics of kisspeptin responsiveness across the menstrual cycle are incompletely understood.
Objective
The objective of the study was to characterize the effects of kisspeptin on GnRH secretion in healthy women in different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Participants and Intervention
Ten women in the early follicular phase, three women in the late follicular (preovulatory) phase, and 14 women in the midluteal phase received a bolus of kisspeptin 112–121 0.24 nmol/kg iv. An additional four women in the early to midfollicular phase received kisspeptin 112–121 0.72 nmol/kg iv.
Results
The response to kisspeptin varied depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. LH pulses were observed immediately after kisspeptin administration in all luteal and preovulatory women. However, only half the women in the early follicular phase had unambiguous kisspeptin responses. Increasing the kisspeptin dose did not increase the LH response in early to midfollicular phase women. Kisspeptin did not appear to reset the GnRH pulse generator in women as it does in men.
Conclusions
Differences in responses to exogenous kisspeptin across the menstrual cycle suggest that kisspeptin tone is higher in the early follicular phase compared with other cycle phases. The mechanisms that determine the timing of GnRH pulse generation in men and women appear to be distinct.
Oxford University Press