kisspeptin

/ ˌkɪsˈpɛptɪn /

noun

1. a protein molecule that is responsible for triggering the onset of puberty in humans

Word History and Origins

Origin of kisspeptin¹

C21: after the KiSS-1 gene that produces it

Example Sentences

The researchers focused on the fact that kisspeptin neurons in the ARC produce and respond to dynorphin, an inhibitory substance.

From Science Daily

"However, the exact role of dynorphin and its receptor in the regulation of kisspeptin neurons was not clearly understood."

From Science Daily

To investigate this, the researchers genetically modified female rats to delete Kiss1, a gene that codes for kisspeptin, only in neurons that expressed the dynorphin receptor.

From Science Daily

They found that the genetically modified rats with deleted Kiss1 in dynorphin receptor-expressing cells had only 3% of kisspeptin neurons in the ARC and 50% in the AVPV.

From Science Daily

The results indicate that kisspeptin neurons with dynorphin receptors are important for normal female rat reproduction, as they allow proper hormone secretion and ovulation.

From Science Daily