Sex Steroid Regulation of Kisspeptin Circuits - Kisspeptin Signaling in Reproductive Biology - page 268

Chapter 13
Sex Steroid Regulation of Kisspeptin Circuits
Jeremy T. Smith
Abstract Kisspeptin cells appear to be the “missing link,” bridging the divide
between levels of gonadal steroids and feedback control of gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH) secretion. Kisspeptin neurons are important in the generation of
both sex steroid negative and estrogen positive feedback signals to GnRH neurons,
the former being involved in the tonic regulation of GnRH secretion in males and
females and the latter governing the preovulatory GnRH/luteinizing hormone (LH)
surge in females. In rodents, kisspeptin-producing cells populate the anteroventral
periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and estrogen regu-
lation of kisspeptin has been extensively studied in these regions. Kisspeptin cells in
the ARC appear to receive and forward signals applicable to negative feedback
regulation of GnRH. In the female rodent AVPV, kisspeptin cells are important for
positive feedback regulation of GnRH and the preovulatory LH surge. In sheep and
primates, a rostral population of kisspeptin cells is located in the dorsolateral preop-
tic area (POA) as well as the ARC. Initial studies showed kisspeptin cells in the
latter were involved in both the positive and negative feedback regulation of GnRH.
Interestingly, further studies now suggest that kisspeptin cells in the ovine POA may
also play an important role in generating estrogen positive feedback. This chapter
discusses the current consensus knowledge regarding the interaction between sex
steroids and kisspeptin neurons in mammals.
J. T. Smith ( * )
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia,
M309, Hackett Entrance 2, Hackett Drive, Nedlands , Perth , WA 6009 , Australia
e-mail: [e-mail]