Bioscientifica Proceedings

Summary. Kisspeptin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that is critical for fertility. In virtually all species, kisspeptin neurons stimulate gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and act as transmitters for sex-steroid feedback to GnRH neurons. In sheep, kisspeptin neurons are located in the preoptic area and the arcuate nucleus (ARC), with the latter involved in both oestradiol positive and negative feedback regulation of GnRH. In addition, sheep are ...

Summary. Limiting the abundance of free-ranging ungulate populations is a significant issue for natural resource managers in many areas of North America. Hunting and culling have traditionally been used to regulate wild animal numbers but there are a growing number of circumstances where these methods pose significant legal, ethical, and ecological challenges, and resource managers often seek alternative approaches to population control. Decreasing fertility o...

Summary. The pubertal activation of high-frequency episodic pulses of GnRH is believed to occur as a result of a change in the balance between inhibitory and excitatory stimuli to GnRH neurons. Kisspeptin neurons have been identified as major components of the pathway that regulates GnRH neuronal activity and appear to mediate the effects of estradiol in the control of GnRH secretion. The influence of nutrition on timing the onset of puberty may also involve k...