Reproductive Neuroendocrine Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Also known as: Metastin fragment
The shortest active fragment of kisspeptin, a naturally occurring peptide that sits upstream of the reproductive hormone axis. Studied directly in human clinical trials for its ability to stimulate luteinizing hormone release.
Overview
Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest peptide fragment (of the naturally occurring, longer kisspeptin/metastin peptide) that retains full biological activity at the kisspeptin receptor. It sits near the top of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, making it of research interest for reproductive endocrinology, fertility, and related hormone regulation.
Proposed Mechanism of Action
Kisspeptin acts on GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus, triggering release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn drives luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release from the pituitary — kisspeptin sits upstream of, and is a key regulator of, the entire reproductive hormone cascade.
Research Context
The cited study administered kisspeptin-10 directly to healthy male volunteers, both as an intravenous bolus (dose-ranging) and as continuous infusion, and measured LH response directly. Both administration routes produced measurable, dose-dependent increases in LH — a fairly direct pharmacodynamic result in humans, less common among the peptides on this site.
Limitations of the Current Evidence
- The cited study is in healthy men; response has separately been reported to differ by sex ("sexual dimorphism" is specifically noted in related literature we found but did not cite directly here) — don't assume findings generalize across sexes.
- All administration in the cited study was via intravenous bolus or infusion in a clinical research setting — this doesn't tell you about subcutaneous dosing, which is how kisspeptin-10 is typically sold and used outside formal research settings.
Research-Setting Dosing (as reported in literature)
| Route | Range (as reported) | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intravenous bolus | 0.01–3 µg/kg | — | George et al. (2011); dose-dependent LH rise, with 1 µg/kg producing the strongest response — higher doses (3 µg/kg) were paradoxically less effective. |
| Intravenous continuous infusion | 1.5–4 µg/kg/hour | 9-22.5 hours | Lower infusion rate (1.5 µg/kg/h) produced clearer effects on LH pulse frequency than the higher rate tested. |
Figures above are extracted directly from the cited preclinical/research literature. They describe what researchers administered to study subjects (frequently animal models) — they are not human dosing recommendations and are not medical advice.
Cited Studies
Kisspeptin-10 is a potent stimulator of LH and increases pulse frequency in men
George JT, Veldhuis JD, Roseweir AK, Newton CL, Faccenda E, Millar RP, Anderson RA · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2011
Human clinical trial (healthy male volunteers)View source →
Last updated August 1, 2026