Review: kisspeptin and reproduction in the pig

Authors: Lents, Clay

Submitted to: Animal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2019
Publication Date: 12/1/2019
Citation: Lents, C.A. 2019. Review: kisspeptin and reproduction in the pig. Animal. 13(12):2986-2999. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119001666.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119001666

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is critical for the initiation and maintenance of reproductive cycles in pigs and is influenced by a number of factors, such as nutrition, metabolism and gonadal steroids. Kisspeptin in a neuropeptide that is expressed in discrete regions of the porcine hypothalamus and is positioned to mediate the action of many of these factors. The expression of kisspeptin in the pig hypothalamus does not appear to be regulated by gonadal steroids in the same way as other species. It is unclear if kisspeptin is mediating nutritional or metabolic effects on gonadotropin secretion in pigs as it takes large deficits in feed intake or BW to affect hypothalamic expression of the KISS1 gene in the porcine hypothalamus. There appears to be little genetic diversity in kisspeptin or its receptor that is useful for improving reproduction in swine. Both peripheral and central injection of kisspeptin strongly stimulates the secretion of gonadotropin hormones, LH and FSH, in gilts. Similarly, synthetic analogues have been developed and showed potential promise as tools to manage reproductive cycles in gilts and sows. Review of the literature nonetheless reveals that research on kisspeptin and its function in controlling reproduction in pigs has lagged that of other livestock species.