Effect of Kisspeptin on Regulation of Growth Hormone

Kisspeptin ( KP), a neuroendocrine regulator of reproduction, is hypothesized to be an in鄄 tegrator of metabolism and hormones critical to the regulation of reproduction. Lactation is associated with enhanced growth hormone (GH) responsiveness and reduced fertility. Our study was designed to de鄄 termine the effects of lactation on KP鄄stimulated GH and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Five non鄄 lactating and five lactating dairy cows were used in the study. Experiments were conducted with lactating cows at weeks 1, 5 and 11 after parturition. The experimental treatments ( saline and KP [ 100 and 400 pmol / kg body weight]) were given intravenous鄄 ly and blood was collected and plasma was stored un鄄 til later assay to determine concentrations of GH, LH, progesterone and non鄄esterified fatty acids. We found that neither dose of KP stimulated an increase in GH secretion. The low dose of KP increased (P <0. 05) LH concentrations only in lactating cows. The higher dose of KP elicited an increase in circulating LH con鄄 centrations in both lactating and non鄄lactating cows. The lower dose of KP increased (P < 0. 05) the area under the curve for LH only in cows during week 5 of lactation, and the area under the curve of LH follow鄄 ing the highest dose of KP was greater (P <0. 05) in cows during week 5 of lactation than that for the other groups of cows. In summary, lactation status and stage of lactation did not change the sensitivity of the GH system to KP. However, an effect of stage of lactation on KP鄄stimulated LH secretion was detected in the dairy cows. Study of the KP system during lac鄄 tation in dairy cows may provide critical insights into the mechanisms for lactation鄄associated changes in the reproductive axis.