Kisspeptins are neuropeptides synthesized in the hypothalamus and encoded by the KISS1 gene. The KISS1 gene encodes the G protein-coupled receptor 54 (known as KISS1R or GPR54) and plays a crucial role in regulating reproduction, pubertal maturation, and metabolic function.[11][12][13] KISS1 neurons located in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) project to GnRH neurons in the median eminence, which expresses KISS1R, to stimulate LH secretions in a pulsatile manner from the anterior pituitary to initiate ovulation/ pubertal maturation.[14][15][16] The KISS1 and KISS1R/GPR54 genes have been detected in the brain, pituitary, placenta, pancreas, liver, and small intestine.[14]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Lee DK, Nguyen T, O'Neill GP, Cheng R, Liu Y, Howard AD, et al. (March 1999). "Discovery of a receptor related to the galanin receptors". FEBS Letters. 446 (1): 103–107. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00009-5. PMID10100623. S2CID38910830.
^Navarro VM, Castellano JM, Fernández-Fernández R, Barreiro ML, Roa J, Sanchez-Criado JE, et al. (October 2004). "Developmental and hormonally regulated messenger ribonucleic acid expression of KiSS-1 and its putative receptor, GPR54, in rat hypothalamus and potent luteinizing hormone-releasing activity of KiSS-1 peptide". Endocrinology. 145 (10): 4565–4574. doi:10.1210/en.2004-0413. PMID15242985. S2CID14817781.