Kisspeptin and neurokinin B analogs use in gynecological endocrinology: where do we stand?
Szeliga. A A; Podfigurna. A A; Bala. G G; Meczekalski. B B
Key Findings
- Kisspeptin and NKB signaling in the brain is a key driver of the reproductive hormone cascade.
- Kisspeptin agonists can induce ovulation and may aid infertility treatment, whereas antagonists could suppress excess LH pulses in PCOS or act as contraceptives.
- NKB antagonists have shown rapid relief of menopausal vasomotor (hot‑flash) symptoms without needing estrogen.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, these peptides hint at future ways to fine‑tune reproductive hormones, but current evidence is limited to clinical research settings. Until more safety and dosing data emerge, using kisspeptin or NKB analogs outside of a medical protocol is not advisable. Keep an eye on upcoming trials for potential applications in hormone balance, fertility, and menopause symptom management.
Summary
The review explains that kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) compounds can influence the brain signals that control reproduction. Activating these pathways can trigger ovulation and help with infertility, while blocking them might treat conditions like PCOS, early puberty, or serve as a new form of birth control. They also appear useful for easing hot‑flash symptoms after menopause, but most of this work is still experimental and not yet ready for everyday use.
Abstract
Recent studies have found that kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin neurons (KNDy neurons) in the infundibular nucleus play a crucial role in the reproductive axis. Analogs, both agonists and antagonists, of kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) are particularly important in explaining the physiological role of KNDy in the reproductive axis in animals. The use of kisspeptin and NKB analogs has helped elucidate the regulators of the hypothalamic reproductive axis. This review describes therapeutic uses of Kiss-1 and NKB agonists, most obviously the use of kisspeptin agonists in the treatment for infertility and the induction of ovulation. Kisspeptin antagonists may have potential clinical applications in patients suffering from diseases associated with enhanced LH pulse frequency, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or menopause. The inhibition of pubertal development using Kiss antagonists may be used as a therapeutic option in precocious puberty. Kisspeptin antagonists have been found capable of inhibiting ovulation and have been proposed as novel contraceptives. Hypothalamic amenorrhea and delayed puberty are conditions in which normalization of LH secretion may potentially be achieved by treatment with both kisspeptin and NKB agonists. NKB antagonists are used to treat vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women, providing rapid relief of symptoms while supplanting the need for exogenous estrogen exposure. There is a wide spectrum of therapeutic uses of Kiss-1 and NKB agonists, including the management of infertility, treatment for PCOS, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea or postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms, as well as contraceptive issues. Nevertheless, further research is needed before kisspeptin and NKB analogs are fully incorporated in clinical practice.
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-12-14T00:00:00.000Z
10.1007/s40618-019-01160-0
19
53