Abstract
Kisspeptin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide, is expressed in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) that is considered as the center of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-pulse generator. We hypothesized that kisspeptin expressed in the ARC is implicated in the disturbance of the hypothalamus−pituitary−ovary axis observed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the hormonal profiles, luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse, and ARC kisspeptin immunoreactivity in a PCOS rat model using the anti-progestin RU486. We found an alteration of the LH pulse, including a trend towards an increased mean LH concentration and area under the curve, and a significant upregulation of the mean LH pulse amplitude. Additionally, a higher number of kisspeptin-positive cells was observed in the ARC of RU486-treated rats than in the ARC of intact rats. These results suggest the possible involvement of hypothalamic kisspeptin in the hypothalamus−pituitary−ovary axis and therefore, in PCOS pathophysiology.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 25861487 to Tatsuo Nakahara from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported. We thank Mr. Yoshinari Nagatomo for his technical support.
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All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.
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Kondo, M., Osuka, S., Iwase, A. et al. Increase of kisspeptin-positive cells in the hypothalamus of a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome. Metab Brain Dis 31, 673–681 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9807-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9807-0