Kisspeptin
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHQuick Specifications
| Vial Size | 5MG |
|---|---|
| BAC Water | 2ML |
| Amount Per Unit | 0.025MG PER UNIT |
| Recommended Dose | 100MCG TO 300MCG (4 TO 12 UNITS) |
| Frequency | AS NEEDED |
| Injection Type | SUBCUTANEOUS |
| Timing | 30–60 minutes before activity. Pulsatile dosing (every 90 minutes if used repeatedly) best mimics physiological kisspeptin secretion patterns. Store reconstituted vial at 2–8°C, use within 30 days. Can be stacked with Gonadorelin for complementary HPG axis research. |
Research Overview
Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide encoded by the KISS1 gene and the most potent known activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Originally identified as a metastasis suppressor protein — hence the original name “metastin” — its role in reproductive endocrinology was established in 2003 when two independent research teams demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations in its receptor GPR54 (KISS1R) cause idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: complete failure of puberty onset despite normal hypothalamic-pituitary anatomy. The most studied research form is Kisspeptin-10 (KP-10), the C-terminal decapeptide that retains full receptor potency in a more stable, compact structure. Kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus and anteroventral periventricular nucleus serve as the primary gatekeepers of GnRH pulsatility — they receive and integrate signals from sex steroids, leptin, ghrelin, and metabolic sensors, then generate synchronous pulses that drive the GnRH pulse generator. In male research subjects, a single subcutaneous injection of KP-10 triggers a measurable LH surge within 20–60 minutes, followed by serum testosterone increases within 2 hours. This makes kisspeptin uniquely valuable for HPG axis research: unlike direct LH or GnRH administration, kisspeptin activates the full upstream regulatory cascade without bypassing endogenous feedback. Clinical research at Imperial College London (Dhillo et al. 2005 through Comninos et al. 2017) has characterized its dose-response relationship, safety profile, and potential in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Separate from HPG axis action, fMRI studies have documented kisspeptin’s effects on limbic system processing — enhancing amygdala activation during sexual and emotional stimuli independent of any hormonal change. For research and educational purposes only. Not FDA-approved. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.
How It Works
GPR54 Receptor Activation & GnRH Pulsatility
Kisspeptin binds to the GPR54 (KISS1R) receptor expressed on GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus. Receptor activation triggers calcium mobilization via Gq/11 protein signaling and PKC pathway activation, leading to synchronized GnRH pulse release into the hypothalamic-pituitary portal circulation. The frequency and amplitude of kisspeptin pulses directly encode the GnRH pulse pattern — a discovery that established kisspeptin as the primary upstream regulator of the reproductive axis and a rate-limiting step in all sex hormone production downstream.
HPG Axis Cascade — LH, FSH, and Testosterone
GnRH pulses released by kisspeptin signaling arrive at the anterior pituitary and drive secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In males, LH binds to Leydig cells in the testes and triggers the steroidogenic cascade that converts cholesterol to testosterone via StAR, CYP11A1, and CYP17A1 enzymes. Unlike direct testosterone replacement or exogenous LH administration, kisspeptin activates the cascade from the top of the HPG axis — preserving negative feedback sensitivity, testicular volume, and endogenous regulatory architecture. Research in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism models demonstrates testosterone increases of 1.5–3x baseline within 2 hours of a single subcutaneous injection.
Limbic and CNS Sexual Arousal Processing
Independent of its HPG axis role, kisspeptin acts on KISS1R receptors in the amygdala, limbic system, and mesolimbic dopamine circuits. Comninos et al. (2017) demonstrated via fMRI that intravenous kisspeptin significantly enhanced BOLD signal in the amygdala during sexual and emotional image processing in healthy men, while simultaneously reducing aversion responses to negatively valenced stimuli. This dual mechanism — hormonal via HPG axis activation and behavioral via limbic circuitry — distinguishes kisspeptin research from other reproductive peptides and from melanocortin-pathway compounds like PT-141.
Commonly Studied With
These peptides are frequently researched alongside Kisspeptin: 5mg due to complementary mechanisms:
Research references
The following PubMed resources are provided for educational reference. External links open in a new tab.
- Dhillo WS, et al. (2005). Kisspeptin-54 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis in human males — PubMed
- Jayasena CN, et al. (2011). Kisspeptin-54 triggers egg maturation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization — PubMed
- Comninos AN, et al. (2017). Kisspeptin modulates sexual and emotional brain processing in humans — PubMed
Kisspeptin: 5mg information on this page is for research and educational purposes only. This content is not FDA-approved, does not constitute medical advice, and should not be used to guide personal health decisions. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any research compound.
Dose Calculator
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Recommended dose: 100MCG TO 300MCG (4 TO 12 UNITS)