Tachykinin peptides (neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P) play essential roles in controlling GnRH release, puberty timing, and the ovulatory cycle.
3 critical roles in fertilityTachykinins regulate GnRH pulsatility, puberty timing, and the preovulatory LH surge — all essential for reproductive success
What the researchers found
Tachykinins (NKA, NKB, and substance P) participate in the central control of GnRH release through neuronal circuits that activate Kiss1 neurons and synchronize their activity within the arcuate nucleus. Their roles extend across the full spectrum of reproductive function: regulating the pulsatile pattern of GnRH release, determining the timing of puberty onset, and controlling the preovulatory LH surge in females. The review synthesizes evidence that tachykinins are critical for all major aspects of fertility attainment and maintenance.
Why it matters
Understanding how tachykinins regulate fertility opens doors for new treatments for reproductive disorders. Neurokinin B is already a drug target — NK3 receptor antagonists are being developed for conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. Deeper knowledge of the full tachykinin system could yield additional therapeutic opportunities.
How the study worked
This is a narrative review article summarizing recent advances in understanding tachykinin biology in reproductive neuroendocrinology, drawing from both animal studies and human data.
What this study cannot tell us
As a review article, this paper synthesizes existing research rather than presenting new data. The authors note existing controversies and open questions in the field, including unresolved aspects of how individual tachykinins interact within the reproductive circuits.
How to read the evidence
This is a narrative review synthesizing evidence from multiple studies. While it provides a comprehensive overview of the field, it does not include a systematic methodology or meta-analysis, and the strength of individual findings varies.
When this study was published
Published in 2019, this review captures the state of knowledge during a period of rapid discovery in reproductive neuropeptide biology. The field has continued to advance since publication.
The bigger picture
The discovery of kisspeptin-neurokinin B-dynorphin (KNDy) neurons revolutionized reproductive neuroendocrinology. This review places tachykinins within that broader framework, highlighting how peptide-based signaling networks coordinate the precise hormonal patterns needed for fertility — an area now translating into novel drugs for reproductive health conditions.
Questions still open
- Can targeting specific tachykinin receptors provide new treatments for infertility or precocious puberty?
- How do the three tachykinins interact with each other and with kisspeptin within the KNDy neuron system?
- Could tachykinin-based therapies offer advantages over current GnRH-based treatments for reproductive disorders?
Common questions
What are tachykinins and where are they found?
Are there already drugs targeting tachykinins for reproductive health?
Read the original research
Novel Biology of Tachykinins in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion.
Seminars in reproductive medicine, 37(3), 109-118
Citation
Leon, Silvia; Navarro, Víctor M. (2019). Novel Biology of Tachykinins in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion.. Seminars in reproductive medicine, 37(3), 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3400252