Definition of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator in mice

Neural networks located in the hypothalamus are responsible for generating ultradian patterns of hormone secretion that control a wide variety of functions. How these neural networks generate pulsatile hormone secretion remains unknown. We report here that a population of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons represents the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. These cells have the remarkable ability to generate synchronized GnRH secretion every 9 min to drive pulsatile gonadotropin hormone secretion in the blood. These observations indicate the arcuate kisspeptin neurons as the origin of reproductive hormone pulsatility in mice and offer the prospect of better understanding and manipulating fertility in the clinic.