Kisspeptin: Paving the Way to a New Therapeutic Avenue in Reproduction

Dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis may result in a variety of disorders, ranging from precocious puberty to infertility. Current therapies for such disorders have varying degrees of success, and are associated with adverse effects and / or practical limitations. The recent identification of Kisspeptin as a critical regulator of reproduction, may offer a new avenue for therapeutically manipulating the HPG axis. This article provides a synopsis of the role of Kisspeptin and the Kisspeptin receptor in reproduction, with an emphasis on potential areas of its exploitation as a therapeutic or diagnostic tool. This article also reviews some of the recent patents related to the field.