KiSS-1 and GPR54 at the pituitary level: Overview and recent insights

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXVII. Kisspeptin Receptor Nomenclature, Distribution, and Function

“…During puberty, there seems to be increased communication between kisspeptin and GnRH neurons, demonstrated by increased hypothalamic Kiss1 and Kiss1r mRNA expression in rats and monkeys (Navarro et al, 2004a;Shahab et al, 2005), increased appositions between kisspeptin fibers and GnRH neurons (Clarkson and Herbison, 2006), increased kisspeptin pulse frequency (Keen et al, 2008), and increased sensitivity of GnRH neurons to kisspeptin (Han et al, 2005). Kisspeptin may also act at the level of the pituitary, although this is controversial and warrants further investigation (Richard et al, 2009).…”

Kisspeptin modulates the activity of the stress system and associated behaviours, the body temperature and nociception

“…has also been found in the pituitary by RT-PCR [181], here co-localised with ACTH expressing cells [178]. However, it must be noted that Rao et al [180] found that ip.…”

Endocannabinoids and Kisspeptins: Two Modulators in Fight for the Regulation of GnRH Activity

“…Hence, indicative results as the presence of a functional kisspeptin receptor in the pituitary, combined with the finding that kisspeptin is released in hypophyseal portal blood, reinforce the idea that kisspeptin could be able of a dual action at both the hypothalamus and pituitary level. In support of this hypothesis, both kiss and GPR54 are expressed in the pituitary of several species investigated to date (Richard et al, 2009); GPR54 has also been detected in ovine cellular fractions enriched of gonadotropes, somatotropes and lactotropes (Smith et al, 2008b). Once again, this duality suggested in many species is not the rule, since in a sheep model of hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection, kisspeptin loses its stimulatory action on LH secretion, thus assuming an exclusive effect upstream of the pituitary (Smith et al 2008b).…”