Kisspeptin enhances brain responses to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men
File(s)133633.1-20200207152453-.pdf (2.27 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Successful reproduction is a fundamental physiological process which relies on the integration of sensory cues of attraction with appropriate emotions and behaviors and the reproductive axis. However, the factors responsible for this integration remain largely unexplored. Using functional neuroimaging, hormonal and psychometric analyses, we demonstrate that the reproductive hormone kisspeptin enhances brain activity in response to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men. Furthermore, the brain regions enhanced by kisspeptin correspond to areas within the olfactory and limbic systems that govern sexual behavior and perception of beauty as well as overlapping with its endogenous expression pattern. Of key functional and behavioral significance, we observed that kisspeptin was most effective in men with lower sexual quality of life scores. As such, our results reveal a previously undescribed attraction pathway in humans activated by kisspeptin, and identify kisspeptin signaling as a new therapeutic target for related reproductive and psychosexual disorders.
Date Issued
2020-02-13
Date Acceptance
2019-12-10
Citation
JCI insight, 2020, 5 (3)
ISSN
2379-3708
Publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation
Journal / Book Title
JCI insight
Volume
5
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Yang et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sponsor
Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Wellcome Trust
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust- BRC Funding
Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
MR/R000484/1
MR/R000484/1
105545/Z/14/Z
RDA29
MR/T006242/1
MR/T006242/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Research & Experimental Medicine
GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE
PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTOR
SEXUAL AROUSAL
MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALE
TESTOSTERONE LEVELS
ACTIVATION
NEURONS
BEHAVIOR
REWARD
DESIRE
Behavior
Endocrinology
Neuroendocrine regulation
Neuroimaging
Neuroscience
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e133633
Date Publish Online
2020-02-13