Kisspeptin

Kisspeptin-10 is a decapeptide fragment of the KISS1 gene product that activates the GPR54 receptor on GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus, triggering pulsatile GnRH release that in turn drives LH and FSH secretion from the pituitary.

In a human study, intravenous kisspeptin-10 produced a rapid, dose-dependent rise in LH in healthy men, increasing both LH pulse frequency and pulse amplitude.

The same line of research found a sexual dimorphism, with women in the follicular phase showing a blunted gonadotropin response compared to men.

This has made kisspeptin-10 a focus of ongoing research into the reproductive hormone axis and its disorders.