RT Journal Article
T1 Effects of Kisspeptin on rabbit ovulation: a comprehensive study of ovulatory, endocrine and histological response
A1 Gimeno-Martos, Silvia
A1 Gómez-León, Alicia
A1 Luigia, Bosa
A1 Lorenzo González, Pedro Luis
A1 Arias Álvarez, María
A1 García García, Rosa María
A1 Rebollar, Pilar G.
AB Mammalian reproductive function is regulated by hypothalamic neurons that secrete Kisspeptin (Kp), a neuropeptide that stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, triggering pituitary gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) and gonadal steroids. This study evaluated the effect of Kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) on ovulation induction in rabbits, comparing its efficacy with that of the GnRH analogue gonadorelin. Multiparous New Zealand White × California does were assigned to three groups: control group (0.5 % saline solution, i.v.), GnRH group (20 μg gonadorelin, i.m.), and Kp10 group (250 μg Kp10, i.v.). Kp10 induced ovulation in 87.5 % of does, matching the response observed in the GnRH group, with a comparable number of corpora lutea (CL) per ovulated doe (12.9 ± 1.4 vs 14.6 ± 1.4 CL/doe, respectively). On day 7, plasma progesterone (P4) was significantly higher in ovulated GnRH-treated does than in Kp10-treated ones (25.12 ± 4.17 vs 9.47 ± 4.17 ng/mL; p < 0.0211), while non-ovulated controls exhibited minimal P4 concentrations (0.86 ± 0.12 ng/mL). Plasma estradiol (E2) levels showed no significant differences across days or groups, with mean values of 32.74 ± 4.33 pg/mL on day 0 and 37.27 ± 5.49 pg/mL on day 7, respectively. Histological analysis confirmed that Kp10 promoted preovulatory follicle development and CL formation, mirroring GnRH effects. Additionally, Kp10 enhanced angiogenesis, indicated by increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in more developed follicles and CL. These results suggest that Kp10 could be an alternative to GnRH for ovulation induction in rabbits, although further studies are needed to explore optimal analogues, doses, and administration routes.
PB Elsevier
SN 0093-691X
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/121781
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/121781
LA eng
NO Gimeno-Martos, S., Gómez-León, A., Luigia, B., Lorenzo, P. L., María, A. Á., Rosa María, G. G., & Rebollar, P. G. (2025). Effects of Kisspeptin on rabbit ovulation: a comprehensive study of ovulatory, endocrine and histological response. Theriogenology, 245, 117524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117524
NO Contribución de autores:Silvia Gimeno-Martos: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Alicia Gómez-León: Writing – original draft, Methodology. Bosa Luigia: Methodology. Pedro L. Lorenzo: Writing – review & editing. Arias-Álvarez María: Writing – review & editing, Resources, Funding acquisition. García-García Rosa María: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Resources, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis. Pilar G. Rebollar: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Resources, Methodology, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization.
NO Universidad Complutense de Madrid
NO Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
NO European Commission
DS Docta Complutense
RD 13 abr 2026