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Kisspeptin and GnRH Pulse Generation

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Kisspeptin Signaling in Reproductive Biology

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 784))

Abstract

The reproductive neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has two modes of secretion. Besides the surge mode, which induces ovulation in females, the pulse mode of GnRH release is essential to cause various reproductive events in both sexes, such as spermatogenesis, follicular development, and sex steroid synthesis. Some environmental cues control gonadal activities through modulating GnRH pulse frequency. Researchers have looked for the anatomical location of the mechanism generating GnRH pulses, the GnRH pulse generator, in the brain, because an artificial manipulation of GnRH pulse frequency is of therapeutic importance to stimulate or suppress gonadal activity. Discoveries of kisspeptin and, consequently, KNDy (kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin) neurons in the hypothalamus have provided a clue to the possible location of the GnRH pulse generator. Our analyses of hypothalamic multiple-unit activity revealed that KNDy neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus might play a central role in the generation of GnRH pulses in goats, and perhaps other mammalian species. This chapter further discusses the possible mechanisms for GnRH pulse generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Physiology Research Unit, Division of Animal Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Hiroaki Okamura & Yoshihiro Wakabayashi

  2. Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Reproductive Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Hiroko Tsukamura & Yoshihisa Uenoyama

  3. Animal Breeding, Veterinary Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Kei-ichiro Maeda

  4. Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Production, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Satoshi Ohkura

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  1. Hiroaki Okamura
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  2. Hiroko Tsukamura
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  4. Yoshihisa Uenoyama
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  5. Yoshihiro Wakabayashi
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  6. Kei-ichiro Maeda
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Correspondence to Kei-ichiro Maeda .

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  1. , Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA

    Alexander S. Kauffman

  2. School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Hackett Drive, Nedlands, 6009, West Australia, Australia

    Jeremy T. Smith

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Okamura, H., Tsukamura, H., Ohkura, S., Uenoyama, Y., Wakabayashi, Y., Maeda, Ki. (2013). Kisspeptin and GnRH Pulse Generation. In: Kauffman, A., Smith, J. (eds) Kisspeptin Signaling in Reproductive Biology. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 784. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6199-9_14

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