Kisspeptin has been shown to be both necessary and sufficient for activation of the reproductive axis, during puberty and later in adulthood.  This makes kisspeptin a fundamental component of the reproductive axis. Kisspeptin has been deemed the single most potent stimulator of GnRH neurons yet known.  The importance of kisspeptin has been documented in humans as well as non-human animal models, ranging from monkeys, sheep, and rodents to numerous fish species, thus signifying a highly conserved nature of its reproductive function.  Importantly, kisspeptin neurons seem to mediate many of the regulatory effects of other signals, whether they are metabolic, circadian, hormonal, or stress. This places kisspeptin neurons in a unique position to be key nodal points and conduits for conveying numerous endogenous and exogenous signals to the reproductive axis.

Focuses on kisspeptin and its role in reproductive biology

Part One: Kisspeptin Signalingin vivo and in vitro.- Kisspeptin: Past, Present and Prologue.- Structure, Synthesis, and Phylogeny of Kisspeptin and its Receptor.- Neuroanatomy of the Kisspeptin Signaling System in Mammals: Comparative and Developmental Aspects.- The Effects of Kisspeptin on Gonadotropin Release in Non-Human Mammals.- Effects of Kisspeptin on Hormone Secretion in Humans.- Kisspeptin Excitation of GnRH Neurons.- Molecular Biology of the Kisspeptin Receptor: Signaling, Function, and Mutations.- Kisspeptin Antagonists.- Kisspeptin and Clinical Disorders.- Beyond the GnRH Axis: Kisspeptin Regulation of the Oxytocin System in Pregnancy and Lactation.- Part Two: Development and Regulation of Kisspeptin Neurons.- The Development of Kisspeptin Circuits in the Mammalian Brain.- Kisspeptin and Puberty in Mammals.- Sex Steroid Regulation of Kisspeptin Circuits.- Kisspeptin and GnRH Pulse Generation.- Interactions between Kisspeptins and Neurokinin B.- Electrophysiology of Kisspeptin Neurons.- Metabolic Regulation of Kisspeptin.- Circadian Regulation of Kisspeptin in Female Reproductive Functioning.- Kisspeptin and Seasonality of Reproduction.- Stress Regulation of Kisspeptin in the Modulation of Reproductive Function.- Effects of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors and Phytoestrogens on the Kisspeptin System.- Model Systems for Studying Kisspeptin Signaling: Mice and Cells.- Index.