TY - JOUR
T1 - The neuroanatomy of the kisspeptin system in the mammalian brain
AU - Mikkelsen, Jens D
AU - Simonneaux, Valerie
N1 - Keywords: Animals; Brain; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Neurons; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Tissue Distribution; Tumor Suppressor Proteins
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The kisspeptin precursor is the protein transcribed from the Kiss-1 gene and the kisspeptins are the peptides that are posttranslationally processed from the precursor. The kisspeptins activate the G-protein coupled receptor GPR54 and are strongly implicated in puberty onset and in regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis in mammals. Physiological studies have indicated that these effects occur via a direct activation of the GnRH neurons, and at an unknown site in the median eminence or directly on the gonadotropes. Paradoxically, while the function of kisspeptin is relatively well understood, little data are available about the localization of kisspeptin neurons in the brain, and in particular the projection patterns of kisspeptin containing axons implicated in regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis. This review covers the current information about the localization of kisspeptin neurons in the mammalian brain and discusses the facts and artifacts of the methods of their detection. The available data suggest that kisspeptins are synthesized in neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus and the arcuate nucleus. Both populations are considered to be involved in control of gonadotropes. In addition, kisspeptin nerve terminals and receptors are found in other hypothalamic area suggesting that kisspeptins are involved in regulation of other yet unknown homeostatic or neuroendocrine functions.
AB - The kisspeptin precursor is the protein transcribed from the Kiss-1 gene and the kisspeptins are the peptides that are posttranslationally processed from the precursor. The kisspeptins activate the G-protein coupled receptor GPR54 and are strongly implicated in puberty onset and in regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis in mammals. Physiological studies have indicated that these effects occur via a direct activation of the GnRH neurons, and at an unknown site in the median eminence or directly on the gonadotropes. Paradoxically, while the function of kisspeptin is relatively well understood, little data are available about the localization of kisspeptin neurons in the brain, and in particular the projection patterns of kisspeptin containing axons implicated in regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis. This review covers the current information about the localization of kisspeptin neurons in the mammalian brain and discusses the facts and artifacts of the methods of their detection. The available data suggest that kisspeptins are synthesized in neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus and the arcuate nucleus. Both populations are considered to be involved in control of gonadotropes. In addition, kisspeptin nerve terminals and receptors are found in other hypothalamic area suggesting that kisspeptins are involved in regulation of other yet unknown homeostatic or neuroendocrine functions.
U2 - 10.1016/j.peptides.2008.09.004
DO - 10.1016/j.peptides.2008.09.004
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 18840491
SN - 0196-9781
VL - 30
SP - 26
EP - 33
JO - Peptides
JF - Peptides
IS - 1
ER -