Kisspeptin (encoded by Kiss1) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that is directly regulated by sex steroids and directly stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Kisspeptin cell models were established in order to facilitate future molecular analysis of kisspeptin. mHypoA-51 and mHypoA-63 cell lines were found to express kisspeptin, estrogen receptor α and β, substance P, but not tyrosine hydroxyase. Furthermore, estrogen decreased Kiss1 expression in both cell lines. Based on these results, it was concluded that mHypoA-51 and mHypoA-63 are representative of arcuate kisspeptin neurons. Accumulating evidence also indicates that kisspeptin indirectly stimulates GnRH neurons through afferent neurons. Kisspeptin receptor expression was detected in native neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons. Using the mHypoE-38 cell line, kisspeptin was found to directly regulate NPY mRNA expression and secretion via the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways. This is the first evidence that kisspeptin directly stimulates NPY neurons to potentially exert indirect effects on GnRH neurons.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/25727 |
| Date | 06 January 2011 |
| Creators | Kim, Ginah |
| Contributors | Belsham, Denise |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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