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Central and peripheral administration of kisspeptin activates gonadotropin but not somatotropin secretion in prepubertal gilts.

C Lents, Animal and Dairy Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, 30602-2771, United States
N Heidorn, Animal and Dairy Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, United States
C Barb, Richard B. Russel Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS, Athens, United States
J Ford, US Meat Animal Research Center, USDA-ARS, Clay Center, United States

Correspondence: Clay Lents, Email: clents{at}uga.edu

Abstract

It is well established that kisspeptin signaling is necessary for the onset of puberty in laboratory animals. However, the role that kisspeptin may have in regulating puberty in large domestic animals is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that either central or peripheral infusion of kisspeptin would stimulate gonadotropin and growth hormone secretion in prepubertal gilts. In experiment 1, prepubertal gilts were fitted with intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula and indwelling jugular catheters. Animals were randomly assigned to receive 0, 10, or 100 µg of kisspeptin in saline. In experiment 2, prepubertal gilts, fitted with indwelling jugular catheters, randomly received 0, 1, 2.5, or 5 mg of Kisspeptin in saline intravenously. Serial blood samples were collected every 15 min for 3 h before and 5 h after infusions, and serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and GH were determined. Mean concentrations of LH and FSH remained at basal levels for control animals, but were increased (P < 0.001) for animals receiving ICV infusion of kisspeptin. Area under the LH and FSH curves following ICV infusion of kisspeptin increased (P < 0.001) in a dose dependent manner. Concentrations of GH were unaffected by ICV treatment. Peripheral administration of kisspeptin increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of LH, but not FSH or GH. Thus kisspeptin can activate gonadotropic, but not somatotropic hormone secretion in prepubertal gilts. The present data support the concept that kisspeptin plays a role in the mechanism involved in initiating puberty in swine.