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Kisspeptin enhances brain responses to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men
Lisa Yang, … , Alexander N. Comninos, Waljit S. Dhillo
Lisa Yang, … , Alexander N. Comninos, Waljit S. Dhillo
Published February 13, 2020
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2020;5(3):e133633. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.133633.
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Research Article Endocrinology Neuroscience

Kisspeptin enhances brain responses to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men

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Abstract

Successful reproduction is a fundamental physiological process that relies on the integration of sensory cues of attraction with appropriate emotions and behaviors and the reproductive axis. However, the factors responsible for this integration remain largely unexplored. Using functional neuroimaging, hormonal, and psychometric analyses, we demonstrate that the reproductive hormone kisspeptin enhances brain activity in response to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men. Furthermore, the brain regions enhanced by kisspeptin correspond to areas within the olfactory and limbic systems that govern sexual behavior and perception of beauty as well as overlap with its endogenous expression pattern. Of key functional and behavioral significance, we observed that kisspeptin was most effective in men with lower sexual quality-of-life scores. As such, our results reveal a previously undescribed attraction pathway in humans activated by kisspeptin and identify kisspeptin signaling as a new therapeutic target for related reproductive and psychosexual disorders.

Authors

Lisa Yang, Lysia Demetriou, Matthew B. Wall, Edouard G.A. Mills, David Zargaran, Mark Sykes, Julia K. Prague, Ali Abbara, Bryn M. Owen, Paul A. Bassett, Eugenii A. Rabiner, Alexander N. Comninos, Waljit S. Dhillo

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Figure 1

Experimental protocol and effects of kisspeptin administration on circulating kisspeptin levels.

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Experimental protocol and effects of kisspeptin administration on circul...
(A) Thirty-three healthy young men participated in a randomized, double-blind, 2-way crossover, placebo-controlled study. They attended 2 study visits: 1 for intravenous administration of kisspeptin (1 nmol/kg/h) and 1 for intravenous administration of an equivalent volume of placebo (vehicle) for 75 minutes. Blood samples were taken every 15 minutes (X). Participants completed baseline and intrainfusion psychometric questionnaires (Q) and underwent functional MRI (fMRI) scanning while performing olfactory and facial attractiveness tasks. (B) Kisspeptin infusion resulted in increased circulating kisspeptin levels (****P < 0.0001, and n = 33), reaching a plateau at 30 minutes after initiation, with stable circulating kisspeptin levels during the fMRI and intrainfusion psychometric questionnaires.

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