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Review
. 2008 Sep;136(3):295-301.
doi: 10.1530/REP-08-0091. Epub 2008 May 30.

Kisspeptin and KISS1R: a critical pathway in the reproductive system

Elena Gianetti  1 , Stephanie Seminara
Affiliations
Review

Kisspeptin and KISS1R: a critical pathway in the reproductive system

Elena Gianetti et al. Reproduction. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

In 2003, three groups around the world simultaneously discovered that KISS1R (GPR54) is a key gatekeeper of sexual maturation in both mice and men. Developmental changes in the expression of the ligand for KISS1R, kisspeptin, support its critical role in the pubertal transition. In addition, kisspeptin, a powerful stimulus of GNRH-induced gonadotropin secretion and may modulate both positive and negative sex steroid feedback effects at the hypothalamic level. Genetic studies in humans have revealed both loss-of-function and gainof-function mutations in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and precocious puberty respectively. This review examines the kisspeptin/KISS1R pathway in the reproductive system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The currently known mutations in the human KISS1R gene.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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