Kisspeptin induces ovulation in heifers under low plasma progesterone concentrations.
Leonardi. Carlos E P CEP; Dias. Fernanda C F FCF; Adams. Gregg P GP; Araujo. Estela R ER; Singh. Jaswant J
Key Findings
- A single IV dose of human kisspeptin‑10 (45 mg) raised LH levels within 15‑90 minutes and led to ovulation in 2 out of 10 heifers.
- Multiple IV doses of human kisspeptin‑10 over 2 hours increased LH and produced ovulation in 11 out of 18 heifers, better than control.
- Mouse kisspeptin‑10 was much less effective; GnRH still gave the highest ovulation rate (5/6).
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the study shows that kisspeptin‑10 can trigger an LH surge and ovulation in cattle, but it offers no direct, safe protocol for humans. More human‑focused research is needed before considering kisspeptin‑10 for fertility or hormone‑based performance hacks.
Summary
In a study with young cows, a short version of the human hormone kisspeptin (kisspeptin‑10) was given through an IV. It caused a quick rise in the hormone LH and made some cows ovulate, working better than the mouse version of the peptide and almost as well as the standard fertility drug GnRH.
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of a single versus multiple doses of a 10-amino acid fragment of human (hKp) or murine (mKp) kisspeptin on LH secretion and the fate of the dominant follicle. In all experiments, a new wave was induced (Day 0) by ultrasound-guided ablation of >5 mm follicles, a progesterone device (CIDR) was placed in the vagina, animals given prostaglandin F<sub>2α</sub> analog im on Day 3.5 and 4, and hKp or mKp treatment given on Day 6. The experimental design maintained growth and ovulatory potential of the dominant follicle for 12 days and allowed hypothesis testing during the low-progesterone period (plasma progesterone ≤1.8 ng/ml on Day 6) wherein spontaneous wave emergence and ovulation did not occur between Day 6 and Day 12. In Experiment 1, heifers (n = 10/group) were given single iv dose of 45 mg hKp, 45 mg mKp, or 2 ml normal saline (control). Post-treatment plasma LH concentrations from 15 to 90 min were higher (P < 0.01) in hKp group than in the mKp and control groups. Two heifers ovulated in hKp group versus none in other groups. In Experiment 2, heifers (n = 6/group) were given 45 mg hKp over a 2 h period divided into multiple iv doses treatments or 2 ml normal saline (control). Post-treatment plasma LH concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in all hKp treatment groups than in the control group. The ovulation rate was higher (P = 0.06) after hKp treatments (11/18) than in the control group (0/6). In Experiment 3, heifers (n = 6/group) were given 45 mg mKp over a 2 h period divided into multiple iv doses treatments or a single iv dose of gonadorelin acetate (positive control). Plasma LH concentration was higher (P < 0.01) and the ovulation rate was greater (P = 0.01) in the GnRH group (5/6) than mKp groups (1/12). In summary, hKp was more effective to induce ovulation than mKp. Human kisspeptin-10 given over a 2 h period induced ovulations at a rate similar to that of GnRH treatment in heifers under a low plasma progesterone state.
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.08.033
15
42