Kisspeptin and Prolactin

Abstract

The relationship between elevated prolactin and infertility has been known for a long time, but the specific mechanism by which prolactin inhibited reproduction had been uncertain. The discovery of kisspeptin has provided novel insights into how prolactin might cause infertility, with extensive evidence that elevated prolactin inhibits secretion of kisspeptin, resulting in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and infertility. More recent data suggest that a converse relationship might also exist, with evidence that kisspeptin influences prolactin secretion. This brief review will examine the relationship between kisspeptin and prolactin from each of these two perspectives: the well-characterized inhibitory effect of prolactin on kisspeptin neurons and the more recent concept that kisspeptin neurons are involved in the control of prolactin secretion.

Multifaceted Sexual Dysfunction in Dialyzing Men and Women: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

“…The arcuate nucleus neuropeptide kisspeptin has recently been identified as a key driver of pulsatile GnRH release, thus “GnRH pulse generator”, and is considered critical for fertility in humans. Significantly, it is the most potent stimulator of GnRH activity discovered to date [ 19 , 20 ]. Further research has proven that prolactin-induced suppression of GnRH secretion is mediated by the inhibition of kisspeptin neurons [ 20 , 21 ], but interestingly, kisspeptin itself has been shown to stimulate prolactin secretion through the Kiss1r receptor and other pathways [ 20 ].…”

“…Significantly, it is the most potent stimulator of GnRH activity discovered to date [ 19 , 20 ]. Further research has proven that prolactin-induced suppression of GnRH secretion is mediated by the inhibition of kisspeptin neurons [ 20 , 21 ], but interestingly, kisspeptin itself has been shown to stimulate prolactin secretion through the Kiss1r receptor and other pathways [ 20 ]. A study by Luedde et al [ 22 ] found that serum kisspeptin in ICU patients was significantly elevated and strongly correlated with markers of kidney injury such as decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and serum creatinine.…”

Secretion and Function of Pituitary Prolactin in Evolutionary Perspective

“…Of course, the 2 phases are connected with each other. Indeed, prolactin is released during the luteinizing hormone surge in the estrous cycle, due to increased estrogen levels, which could be a direct pituitary action or a kisspeptinevoked suppression of dopaminergic activity (Szawka et al, 2011;Grattan and Szawka, 2019). The role of the prolactin released during estrous is not well established to date (Phillipps et al, 2019) as it does not seem to affect female sexual behavior (Witcher and Freeman, 1985).…”

“…In addition to lactation, prolactin exerts a variety of different actions in mothers (Bridges and Grattan, 2019) including stimulation of the immune system (Borba et al, 2019) and important effects in the brain by penetrating through the blood-brain barrier (Brown et al, 2016) to reach its multiple targets expressing prolactin receptors in the brain (Bakowska and Morrell, 1997;Kokay et al, 2018) (Figure 2). Prolactin contributes to the increased maternal food intake (Sauve and Woodside, 1996;Naef and Woodside, 2007), lactational anestrus (Grattan and Szawka, 2019), and the induction of maternal behaviors (Brown et al, 2017). These actions are conveyed by the prolactin receptor, although it is established only in some cases which prolactin action is mediated by which location (Table 1).…”

An Overview on the Role of Prolactin and its Receptors in the Reproductive System of Women with External Genital Endometriosis

“…Воздействие ПРЛ на каждый тип клеток яичника и то, какая изоформа рецептора важна для этих функций -вопрос, который до сих пор остается открытым [48]. Пролактининдуцированные эффекты были отмечены в разнообразных процессах, таких как баланс электролитов, поведение, иммунный и стрес-совый ответ, рост и дифференцировка клеток, антиапоптотическое действие, онкогенез молочной железы [9,39], а также стимуляция лактации и рост молочных желез [14,26]. Действие гормона происходит посредством активации экспрессии генов молочного белка [34] и генов, которые являются необходимыми для пролиферации клеток молочной железы [18,51].…”