
pmid: 27663274
pmc: PMC5091624
Kisspeptin neuropeptides are encoded by the Kiss1 gene and play a critical role in the regulation of the mammalian reproductive axis. Kiss1 neurones are found in two locations in the rodent hypothalamus: one in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and another in the RP3V region, which includes the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV). Detailed mapping of the fibre distribution of Kiss1 neurones will help with our understanding of the action of these neurones in other regions of the brain. We have generated a transgenic mouse in which the Kiss1 coding region is disrupted by a CRE‐GFP transgene so that expression of the CRE recombinase protein is driven from the Kiss1 promoter. As expected, mutant mice of both sexes are sterile with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and do not show the normal rise in luteinising hormone after gonadectomy. Mutant female mice do not develop mature Graafian follicles or form corpora lutea consistent with ovulatory failure. Mutant male mice have low blood testosterone levels and impaired spermatogenesis beyond the meiosis stage. Breeding Kiss‐CRE heterozygous mice with CRE‐activated tdTomato reporter mice allows fluorescence visualisation of Kiss1 neurones in brain slices. Approximately 80‐90% of tdTomato positive neurones in the ARC were co‐labelled with kisspeptin and expression of tdTomato in the AVPV region was sexually dimorphic, with higher expression in females than males. A small number of tdTomato‐labelled neurones was also found in other locations, including the lateral septum, the anterodorsal preoptic nucleus, the amygdala, the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei, the periaquaductal grey, and the mammillary nucleus. Three dimensional visualisation of Kiss1 neurones and fibres by CLARITY processing of whole brains showed an increase in ARC expression during puberty and higher numbers of Kiss1 neurones in the caudal region of the ARC compared to the rostral region. ARC Kiss1 neurones sent fibre projections to several hypothalamic regions, including rostrally to the periventricular and pre‐optic areas and to the lateral hypothalamus.
Male, Mouse, 2804 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Mice, Transgenic, Transgenic, 616, Neural Pathways, Animals, Genitalia, Sexual Maturation, Neuronal distribution, neuronal distribution, mouse, transgenic, Neurons, Kisspeptins, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Brain, TdTomato, Original Articles, Organ Size, tdTomato, Kiss-CRE, 1310 Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques, 2712 Endocrinology, 2712 Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 2807 Endocrine and Autonomic Systems, Hypothalamus, Anterior, CLARITY, Infertility, Female
Male, Mouse, 2804 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Mice, Transgenic, Transgenic, 616, Neural Pathways, Animals, Genitalia, Sexual Maturation, Neuronal distribution, neuronal distribution, mouse, transgenic, Neurons, Kisspeptins, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Brain, TdTomato, Original Articles, Organ Size, tdTomato, Kiss-CRE, 1310 Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques, 2712 Endocrinology, 2712 Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 2807 Endocrine and Autonomic Systems, Hypothalamus, Anterior, CLARITY, Infertility, Female
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 87 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
