Hypothermic Conditions Impair GnRH Pulse Generator Activity and Gametogenesis
- 1Kyoto University
Abstract
Mammalian reproductive function is driven by arcuate kisspeptin neurons, pacemakers of gonadotropin secretion. During energy shortages, animals reallocate resources from reproduction to survival; however, the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here we used fiber photometry to chronically monitor synchronized episodes of arcuate kisspeptin neuron activity (SEskiss) in adult mice under various energy-saving conditions. In both sexes, SEskiss frequency was markedly suppressed during fasting-induced torpor and pharmacologically induced hypothermia, whereas hypometabolism alone had no discernible effect. A Q neuron-induced hypothermic state (QIH) robustly suppressed SEskiss, leading to impaired gamete maturation, whereas warming the body temperature during QIH fully restored SEskiss frequency. These findings demonstrate that hypothermia, rather than hypometabolism, is the primary driver of suppression of the hypothalamic reproductive axis during energy-saving conditions. This study provides insights into how thermal signals act as critical gatekeepers in the mammalian reproductive system.
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BibTeX
@misc{hagihara2026hypothermic,
title = {{Hypothermic Conditions Impair GnRH Pulse Generator Activity and Gametogenesis}},
author = {M. Hagihara and D. Suzuki and J. Hara and T. Abe and T. Sakurai and K. Miyamichi and T. Goto},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.27.747452},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.747452v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Hypothermic Conditions Impair GnRH Pulse Generator Activity and Gametogenesis
AU - M. Hagihara
AU - D. Suzuki
AU - J. Hara
AU - T. Abe
AU - T. Sakurai
AU - K. Miyamichi
AU - T. Goto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/27
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.08.27.747452
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.747452v1
AB - Mammalian reproductive function is driven by arcuate kisspeptin neurons, pacemakers of gonadotropin secretion. During energy shortages, animals reallocate resources from reproduction to survival; however, the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here we used fiber photometry to chronically monitor synchronized episodes of arcuate kisspeptin neuron activity (SEskiss) in adult mice under various energy-saving conditions. In both sexes, SEskiss frequency was markedly suppressed during fasting-induced torpor and pharmacologically induced hypothermia, whereas hypometabolism alone had no discernible effect. A Q neuron-induced hypothermic state (QIH) robustly suppressed SEskiss, leading to impaired gamete maturation, whereas warming the body temperature during QIH fully restored SEskiss frequency. These findings demonstrate that hypothermia, rather than hypometabolism, is the primary driver of suppression of the hypothalamic reproductive axis during energy-saving conditions. This study provides insights into how thermal signals act as critical gatekeepers in the mammalian reproductive system.
ER -