Kisspeptin

What it is

Kisspeptins are peptides made from the KISS1 gene. Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest active form. The system is essential for puberty: people born without working kisspeptin signaling do not go through puberty.

How it works

Kisspeptin binds the KISS1 receptor on GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus, triggering GnRH release, which then drives the pituitary to release LH and FSH.

What the research shows

• Researchers at Imperial College London showed that kisspeptin can trigger egg maturation in IVF (Jayasena et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014), and later studied it in women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
• Human studies have examined its effects on LH pulses, sexual brain processing and reproductive disorders.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved. Used in clinical research only.

Storage and handling

Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder is most stable sealed, dry and protected from light. Laboratory practice is to keep unopened vials frozen at about -20 °C for long-term storage, or refrigerated at 2 to 8 °C for shorter periods. After reconstitution, keep the solution refrigerated at 2 to 8 °C, avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and use aseptic technique for every draw. Formal stability data in solution has not been published for most research peptides, so follow the supplier's label and certificate of analysis.

Reconstitution math

To work out concentration, volume and U-100 syringe units for any vial size, use the reconstitution calculator with Kisspeptin selected. Always confirm the vial content against the label and the batch's certificate of analysis.

Key references

• Jayasena CN et al. Kisspeptin-54 triggers egg maturation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. J Clin Invest. 2014.
• Search PubMed for Kisspeptin studies

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