High-fat diet decreases the expression of Kiss1 mRNA and kisspeptin in the ovary, and increases ovulatory dysfunction in postpubertal female rats

Background Female reproductive health is noticeably compromised by obesity. The underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Accumulating evidence indicates that the expression level of ovarian Kiss1 peaks in the afternoon during prooestrus, suggesting local regulatory roles for Kiss1 in the ovulatory process. We used a diet-induced model of obesity to evaluate whether the ovarian Kiss1 system is affected by obesity, and, to investigate the association of the Kiss1 system with ovulatory disorders in female rats.