Kisspeptin and neurokinin B: roles in reproductive health
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) play a key role in several physiological processes including in puberty, adultreproductive function including the menstrual cycle, as well as mediating the symptoms of menopause.Infundibular kisspeptin neurons, which coexpress NKB, regulate the activity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) neurons and thus the physiological pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. Outside of theirhypothalamic reproductive roles, these peptides are implicated in several physiological functions including sexualbehavior and attraction, placental function, and bone health. Over the last two decades, research findings have con-siderably enhanced our understanding of the physiological regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG)axis and identified potential therapeutic applications. For example, recognition of the role of kisspeptin as the naturalinductor of ovulation has led to research investigating its use as a safer, more physiological trigger of oocyte matura-tion in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Moreover, the key role of NKB in the pathophysiology of menopausal hotflashes has led to the development of pharmacological antagonism of this pathway. Indeed, fezolinetant, aneurokinin 3 receptor antagonist, has recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for clini-cal use to treat menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Here, we discuss the roles of kisspeptin and NKB in humanphysiology, including in the regulation of puberty, menstrual cyclicity, reproductive behavior, pregnancy, men-opause, and bone homeostasis. We describe how perturbations of these key physiological processes canresult in disease states and consider how kisspeptin and NKB could be exploited diagnostically as well astherapeutically to treat reproductive disorders.
Date Issued
2025-04-01
Date Acceptance
2024-11-13
Citation
Physiological Reviews, 2025, 105 (2), pp.707-764
ISSN
0031-9333
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Start Page
707
End Page
764
Journal / Book Title
Physiological Reviews
Volume
105
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY 4.0. Published by the American Physiological Society.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39813600
Subjects
KNDy
kisspeptin
neurokinin B
puberty
reproduction
Humans
Neurokinin B
Kisspeptins
Animals
Reproduction
Female
Reproductive Health
Pregnancy
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2025-02-18