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Kisspeptin and its Receptor: New Gatekeepers of Puberty
Author(s) -
Messager Sophie
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01357.x
Subject(s) - kisspeptin , endocrinology , medicine , hormone , infertility , biology , receptor , gonadotropin releasing hormone , human reproduction , delayed puberty , reproduction , luteinizing hormone , pregnancy , genetics
Summary The recent finding that the hormone kisspeptin plays a pivotal role in the onset of puberty is one of the biggest discoveries in human reproductive biology in 30 years. Mutations in the receptor for kisspeptin cause humans and mice to fail to reach puberty and to be sterile. It is the first time since the identification of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone that a single gene is found to have such a dramatic effect on reproduction. This discovery opens new possibilities in the treatment of reproductive disorders such as delayed or advanced puberty, infertility and sex hormone‐dependent cancers.