The effects of kisspeptin-54 on blood pressure in humans and plasma kisspeptin concentrations in hypertensive diseases of pregnancy

Aims: To investigate (i) if kisspeptin administration alters heart rate (HR) or blood pressure (BP) in healthy male and female volunteers, (ii) whether circulating plasma kisspeptin concentrations in healthy pregnant women and women with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy correlate with BP and (iii) whether women with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy have altered plasma kisspeptin concentrations. Methods: We have previously reported the effects of administration of kisspeptin-54 on gonadotrophin secretion in healthy male and female volunteers. In these studies, cardiovascular parameters were not a primary endpoint. However, data were also collected on BP and HR for 4 h post administration of kisspeptin-54. Blood samples were taken from 105 women in the third trimester of pregnancy (27 women with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and 78 controls). Samples were assayed for plasma kisspeptin immunoreactivity (IR). Results: Administration of kisspeptin was not associated with significant changes in HR or BP in healthy men or women. There was no significant correlation between plasma kisspeptin concentration and BP in healthy pregnant women or in those with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy. No significant differences in plasma kisspeptin-IR concentrations were observed between women with hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and normotensive pregnant controls, plasma kisspeptin concentrations ±SE: controls 2878 ± 157 pmol l; pregnancy-induced hypertension 2696 ± 299 pmol l (95% CI vs. controls -514, 878 pmol l); pre-eclampsia 3519 ± 357 (95% CI vs. controls -1644, 362 pmol l). Conclusions: Elevation of plasma kisspeptin-IR is not associated with an alteration in BP in humans. © 2010 The Authors British Journal of Clinical Pharmacolog