Endocrine and hormonal research
Kisspeptin
Also known as Metastin, KISS1 gene product
A neuropeptide that sits upstream of the reproductive hormone axis, and a significant discovery in endocrinology research.
What it is
Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide encoded by the KISS1 gene and signalling through the KISS1R receptor. It was first identified in cancer metastasis research, which is where the alternative name metastin comes from, before its role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was recognised in 2003.
What published research examines
- Regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signalling
- Onset of puberty, the finding that established its importance
- Hypothalamic control of reproductive endocrinology
- Brain imaging studies of emotional and behavioural response
Where the research stands
Kisspeptin biology is well established in academic endocrinology, with a substantial literature spanning animal models and human physiology studies.