Kisspeptin-10
The minimal active fragment of a gene originally discovered as a cancer-metastasis suppressor in Hershey, Pennsylvania — and only later found to sit at the very top of the reproductive hormone cascade.
Not currently stocked by KYIN Peptides, but available to order — see availability below.
What Is Kisspeptin-10?
Kisspeptin is produced as a 145-amino-acid pre-pro-peptide encoded by the KISS1 gene, which is then cleaved into four progressively shorter active fragments: Kp-54, Kp-14, Kp-13, and Kp-10. Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest of these, and it retains full bioactivity at KISS1R (also known as GPR54), the receptor expressed on GnRH-secreting neurons in the hypothalamus. When kisspeptin binds KISS1R, it triggers GnRH release into the pituitary portal circulation, which in turn stimulates luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion — placing kisspeptin at the very top of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis that governs reproductive hormone production in both sexes.
The gene's name has nothing to do with its eventual reproductive role. It was first identified in 1996 by researchers working in Hershey, Pennsylvania, who found it suppressed metastasis in melanoma cells; the name combines the lab's "SS" (suppressor sequence) naming convention with "Ki," a nod to the town's famous chocolate confection. Kisspeptin's central role in puberty onset and reproductive signaling was only established afterward, once KISS1R mutations were linked to delayed puberty in humans.
Research Focus
Kisspeptin-10 complements PT-141 in sexual-health-adjacent research without overlapping mechanistically: PT-141 acts centrally on melanocortin receptors to influence arousal pathways in the brain, while kisspeptin-10 acts far upstream, regulating the hormonal cascade (GnRH → LH/FSH → sex hormones) that the rest of the reproductive system depends on. See our PT-141 research profile for the other compound in this category.
Clinical & Preclinical Trial Data
Kisspeptin-10 has real human data behind it. A study in healthy male volunteers (George et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2011) found that an intravenous bolus of kisspeptin-10 produced a rapid, dose-dependent rise in LH, with maximal stimulation at a 1μg/kg dose. Continuous infusion increased serum testosterone alongside both LH pulse frequency and pulse size. Most of the subsequent clinical research in this space (including fMRI studies on brain activity in sexual and emotional processing) has used the longer-acting Kp-54 fragment rather than Kp-10 specifically, given its longer plasma half-life. Kisspeptin-10 is not FDA-approved for any indication.
Availability
Kisspeptin-10 is not part of KYIN Peptides' standard catalogue, but it is available to order — contact us directly and we'll source it for you.
Kisspeptin-10 questions
What is Kisspeptin-10?
Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest of four active fragments (Kp-54, Kp-14, Kp-13, Kp-10) cleaved from the protein encoded by the KISS1 gene. It is the minimal sequence retaining full receptor activity at KISS1R, the receptor that sits at the top of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis controlling reproductive hormone release.
Why is the gene called KISS1?
It was first identified in 1996 by researchers in Hershey, Pennsylvania as a gene that suppressed metastasis in melanoma cells. The name combines "SS" for the lab's suppressor-sequence naming convention with "Ki" as a nod to Hershey's Kisses, the chocolate the town is known for. Its role in reproductive biology was only discovered years later.
Has Kisspeptin-10 been tested in humans?
Yes. A study in healthy male volunteers (George et al., 2011) found that an intravenous bolus of kisspeptin-10 produced a rapid, dose-dependent rise in luteinizing hormone (LH), and continuous infusion increased testosterone along with LH pulse frequency and pulse size. It is not FDA-approved for any indication.
Does KYIN Peptides sell Kisspeptin-10?
Not as part of our standard catalogue, but yes — it's available to order. Contact us directly and we'll source it for you.
Interested in sourcing Kisspeptin-10?
Contact us and we'll help you source it, or read more about PT-141.