Interaction of estrogen and progesterone on kisspeptin-10-stimulated luteinizing hormone and growth hormone in ovariectomized cows.
Whitlock. Brian K BK; Daniel. Joseph A JA; Wilborn. Robyn R RR; Rodning. Soren P SP; Maxwell. Herris S HS; Steele. Barbara P BP; Sartin. James L JL
Key Findings
- Kisspeptin‑10 increases LH levels regardless of other hormones
- Growth hormone rises after kisspeptin‑10 only if estradiol and/or progesterone are present
- Reproductive steroids appear to sensitize the GH system to kisspeptin
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, this suggests kisspeptin alone is unlikely to boost growth hormone unless combined with estrogen or progesterone, which limits its use as a simple GH‑enhancing supplement. More research in humans is needed before any protocol can be recommended.
Summary
In cows without ovaries, the peptide kisspeptin‑10 can boost the hormone that triggers ovulation (LH), but it only raises growth hormone (GH) when the animals are also given estrogen or progesterone. This means sex hormones make the body more responsive to kisspeptin’s effect on growth hormone.
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) is necessary for optimal reproductive efficiency and its secretion is influenced by sex steroids. This study was designed to determine whether kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) could stimulate GH and if gonadal steroids enhance the GH response to Kp10 in cows. Intravenous injection of Kp10 at 100 or 200 pmol/kg body weight with or without treatment with estradiol cypionate and/or progesterone increased luteinizing hormone (p < 0.01) plasma concentrations. Plasma concentrations of GH were increased following Kp10 in cows treated with estradiol cypionate and/or progesterone (p < 0.05) but not in cows treated with Kp10 without gonadal steroids. These data suggest that reproductive steroids enhance the sensitivity of the somatotropic axis to physiologically relevant doses of Kp10, and support the possibility that Kp10 is an integrator of luteinizing hormone and GH release.
Study Information
pubmed
2008
2008-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
10.1159/000146242
59
16