Influence of neurokinin B, dynorphin A and kisspeptin-10 on in vitro gonadotropin secretion by anterior pituitary cells isolated from pubescent ewes
Natalia Szysiak
Orcid profile, Urszula Kosior-Korzecka
Orcid profile, Vincenzo Longo
Orcid profile, Krzysztof Patkowski
Orcid profile, Monika Greguła-Kania
Orcid profile, Aneta Nowakiewicz
Orcid profile, Mariola Bochniarz
Orcid profile and Andrzej Junkuszew
Orcid profile 
Published Online: Jan 31, 2025
Page range: 121 - 129
Received: Jun 19, 2024
Accepted: Jan 23, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2025-0003
Keywords
© 2025 Natalia Szysiak et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Introduction
The hypothalamic neuropeptides kisspeptin-10 (KiSS-10), neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin A (Dyn A) play roles in the endocrine regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis in puberty. Livestock’s timely attainment of sexual maturity increases reproductive efficiency and raises profitability. The pituitary relationship between these neuropeptides and gonadotropins in puberty in ewes being undercharacterised. The aim of the study was to analyse their direct effect on gonadotropin secretion by pituitary cells isolated from pubescent ewes.
Material and Methods
Cells were incubated in McCoy’s 5A medium, either without neuropeptides (as the control) or with 10−11, 10−10, 10−9, 10−8 and 10−7 M of KiSS-10, NKB and Dyn A. After 4, 12 and 24 h, the luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were analysed by ELISA using species-specific antibodies.
Results
Greater LH and FSH secretion was observed after the 4–24 h exposure to respective 10−11–10−8 M and 10−11–10−7 M concentrations of KiSS-10. Moreover, NKB and Dyn A applied in the concentration range elevated the secretion of both LH and FSH throughout the experiment. Dynorphin A had the most significant effect on gonadotropin secretion at all the concentrations used. In contrast, the most pronounced dose-dependent neuropeptide effect throughout the experiment on the FSH secretion was attributed to NKB.
Conclusion
Kisspeptin-10, NKB and Dyn A had a direct impact on gonadotropin secretion by ovine pituitary cells. However, a detailed explanation of their role in gonadotropin secretion by the anterior pituitary gland in sheep and of their impact on the regulation of the HPO axis during sexual maturation or in the pathomechanism of delayed puberty require further studies.