Kisspeptin-Type Peptides: Ancient Neurohormones Now Understood to Control Reproduction Across Species | Research

The takeaway

Kisspeptin-type peptides evolved as ancient neurohormonal regulators of reproduction, with functions now characterized from sea lamprey to humans, revealing conserved roles in GnRH stimulation and reproductive maturation.

>500 million years conserved
Kisspeptin-type peptides have controlled reproduction across vertebrate evolution for over 500 million years — one of the most ancient neuropeptide functions

What the researchers found

Kisspeptin-type peptides are evolutionarily conserved neurohormones controlling reproduction from lamprey to humans, with conserved GnRH stimulation and reproductive maturation functions predating modern vertebrate brain evolution.

Why it matters

Kisspeptin drugs are being developed for infertility and reproductive disorders. Understanding evolutionary conservation validates the fundamental importance of this peptide system.

How the study worked

Comparative evolutionary, transcriptomic, and functional analysis of kisspeptin-type peptides across vertebrate species from lamprey to mammals.

What this study cannot tell us

Comparative studies across species involve assumptions about functional conservation. Lamprey reproductive physiology differs from mammals.

How to read the evidence

Comparative evolutionary study with functional validation. Fundamental biology informing therapeutic development.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Kisspeptin's deep evolutionary conservation positions it as one of the most fundamental peptide regulators in vertebrate biology.

Questions still open

Could lamprey kisspeptin analogs have unique therapeutic properties?
Do kisspeptin functions extend beyond reproduction in early vertebrates?
Would evolutionary insights improve kisspeptin drug design?

Common questions

What is kisspeptin?

A neuropeptide that triggers puberty and controls reproductive hormones by stimulating GnRH release. This study shows it's been controlling reproduction across all vertebrates for over 500 million years.

Could kisspeptin drugs treat infertility?

Yes, kisspeptin drugs are in development for infertility treatment. This evolutionary study validates kisspeptin as a fundamental reproductive regulator, supporting its importance as a drug target.

Read the original research

Evolution of neurohormone function revealed by actions of kisspeptin-type peptides in an echinoderm.

BMC biology

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Islam, Tabinda; Yañez-Guerra, Luis A; Semmens, Dean C; Beskeen, Riley T; Egertová, Michaela; Elphick, Maurice R. (2026). Evolution of neurohormone function revealed by actions of kisspeptin-type peptides in an echinoderm.. BMC biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02555-1