Hyperprolactinemia-induced ovarian acyclicity is reversed by kisspeptin administration.

Abstract

Hyperprolactinemia is the most common cause of hypogonadotropic anovulation and is one of the leading causes of infertility in women aged 25-34. Hyperprolactinemia has been proposed to block ovulation through inhibition of GnRH release. Kisspeptin neurons, which express prolactin receptors, were recently identified as major regulators of GnRH neurons. To mimic the human pathology of anovulation, we continuously infused female mice with prolactin. Our studies demonstrated that hyperprolactinemia in mice induced anovulation, reduced GnRH and gonadotropin secretion, and diminished kisspeptin expression. Kisspeptin administration restored gonadotropin secretion and ovarian cyclicity, suggesting that kisspeptin neurons play a major role in hyperprolactinemic anovulation. Our studies indicate that administration of kisspeptin may serve as an alternative therapeutic approach to restore the fertility of hyperprolactinemic women who are resistant or intolerant to dopamine agonists.

• Authors: Charlotte Sonigo, Justine Bouilly, Nadège Carré, Virginie Tolle, Alain Caraty, Javier Tello, Fabian-Jesus Simony-Conesa, Robert Millar, Jacques Young, Nadine Binart
• Journal: The Journal of clinical investigation (J Clin Invest) Vol. 122 Issue 10 Pg. 3791-5 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1558-8238 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23006326 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Gonadotropins, Pituitary
• Kiss1 protein, mouse
• Kisspeptins
• RNA, Messenger
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Prolactin

Topics

• Animals
• Anovulation (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Estrous Cycle (drug effects)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (metabolism)
• Gonadotropins, Pituitary (biosynthesis, blood, metabolism)
• Hyperprolactinemia (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System (drug effects, physiology)
• Hypothalamus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Infusion Pumps, Implantable
• Kisspeptins (biosynthesis, genetics, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Mice
• Prolactin (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Pulsatile Flow
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis, genetics)