Department of Pathophysiology, University of Szeged, PO Box 427, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary.
Behav Brain Res. 2013 Mar 15;241:56-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.11.039. Epub 2012 Dec 3.
Kisspeptin is a mammalian amidated neurohormone, which belongs to the RF-amide peptide family and is known for its key role in reproduction. However, in contrast with the related members of the RF-amide family, little information is available regarding its role in the stress-response. With regard to the recent data suggesting kisspeptin neuronal projections to the paraventricular nucleus, in the present experiments we investigated the effect of kisspeptin-13 (KP-13), an endogenous derivative of kisspeptin, on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, motor behavior and thermoregulatory function. The peptide was administered intracerebroventricularly (icv.) in different doses (0.5-2 μg) to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, the behavior of which was then observed by means of telemetry, open field and elevated plus maze tests. Additionally, plasma concentrations of corticosterone were measured in order to assess the influence of KP-13 on the HPA system. The effects on core temperature were monitored continuously via telemetry. The results demonstrated that KP-13 stimulated the horizontal locomotion (square crossing) in the open field test and decreased the number of entries into and the time spent in the open arms during the elevated plus maze tests. The peptide also caused marked elevations in the spontaneous locomotor activity and the core temperature recorded by the telemetric system, and significantly increased the basal corticosterone level. In conclusion, our data indicate that icv. administered KP-13 stimulates the HPA axis, induces hyperthermia, activates motor behavior and causes anxiety in rats.
kisspeptin 是一种哺乳动物酰胺化神经激素，属于 RF-amide 肽家族，因其在生殖中的关键作用而闻名。然而，与 RF-amide 家族的相关成员相比，关于其在应激反应中的作用的信息很少。鉴于最近的数据表明 kisspeptin 神经元投射到室旁核，在本实验中，我们研究了 kisspeptin-13（KP-13），一种 kisspeptin 的内源性衍生物，对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴、运动行为和体温调节功能的影响。该肽以不同剂量（0.5-2 μg）经脑室内（icv.）给药，然后通过遥测、旷场和高架十字迷宫试验观察大鼠的行为。此外，还测量了皮质酮的血浆浓度，以评估 KP-13 对 HPA 系统的影响。通过遥测连续监测对核心温度的影响。结果表明，KP-13 刺激旷场试验中的水平运动（穿越方格），并减少高架十字迷宫试验中进入开放臂的次数和时间。该肽还导致遥测系统记录的自发运动活性和核心温度显著升高，并显著增加基础皮质酮水平。总之，我们的数据表明，icv. 给予的 KP-13 刺激 HPA 轴，引起发热，激活运动行为，并在大鼠中引起焦虑。
