Kisspeptin · research summary

Effects of Maternal Zinc Deficiency and Post-Weaning Zinc Status on Neuroendocrine Markers Associated with Pubertal Regulation in Female Rat Offspring.

International journal of molecular sciences · 2026. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Experimental animal study investigating the effects of maternal and post-weaning zinc status on neuroendocrine markers in female rats.
“This study investigated the effects of maternal zinc deficiency and post-weaning zinc status on neuroendocrine markers associated with pubertal regulation in female rat offspring.”

Subjects

Female Wistar rats and their female offspring.
“Female Wistar rats and female offspring obtained from these rats were used in the study.”

Sample size

40 female rat offspring divided into four groups of 10 each.
“A total of 40 female rats were divided into four groups: zinc deficiency (G1; MZD + ZD), standard diet (G2; MZD + SD), zinc supplementation (G3; MZD + ZnS), and control (G4; CON).”

Duration

45 days post-weaning for the experimental interventions.
“The procedures lasted 45 days.”

Reported findings

Groups with maternal zinc deficiency and continued zinc deficiency (G1) or standard diet (G2) showed the lowest GATAD1, kisspeptin, and NPY gene expressions in hypothalamic tissues.
“The lowest GATAD1, kisspeptin, and NPY gene expressions were found in groups G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), while the lowest GnRH expression was found in group G1 (p < 0.05).”
Serum zinc, kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, and leptin levels were lowest in the zinc-deficient group (G1) and highest in the zinc-supplemented (G3) and control (G4) groups.
“Serum zinc, kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, and leptin levels were lowest in G1 (p < 0.05) and highest in G3 and G4 (p < 0.05).”
FSH and NPY serum levels were low in groups G1 and G2 and high in groups G3 and G4.
“Similarly, FSH and NPY levels were low in G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), and high in G3 and G4 (p < 0.05).”

Limitations stated by the authors

The study was conducted only on female rats, used whole hypothalamic homogenates preventing nuclear specificity, did not model litter effects, and lacked a baseline group at weaning to separate prenatal from postnatal effects.
“First, the study was conducted only on female rat pups. Therefore, it is not possible to generalize the results to male pups or directly to humans.”

Source: PubMed 42653477 · DOI 10.3390/ijms27167479 · all study summaries

Study type

Experimental animal study investigating the effects of maternal and post-weaning zinc status on neuroendocrine markers in female rats.

“This study investigated the effects of maternal zinc deficiency and post-weaning zinc status on neuroendocrine markers associated with pubertal regulation in female rat offspring.”

Reported findings

Groups with maternal zinc deficiency and continued zinc deficiency (G1) or standard diet (G2) showed the lowest GATAD1, kisspeptin, and NPY gene expressions in hypothalamic tissues.

“The lowest GATAD1, kisspeptin, and NPY gene expressions were found in groups G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), while the lowest GnRH expression was found in group G1 (p < 0.05).”

Serum zinc, kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, and leptin levels were lowest in the zinc-deficient group (G1) and highest in the zinc-supplemented (G3) and control (G4) groups.

“Serum zinc, kisspeptin, GnRH, LH, and leptin levels were lowest in G1 (p < 0.05) and highest in G3 and G4 (p < 0.05).”

FSH and NPY serum levels were low in groups G1 and G2 and high in groups G3 and G4.

“Similarly, FSH and NPY levels were low in G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), and high in G3 and G4 (p < 0.05).”

Limitations stated by the authors

The study was conducted only on female rats, used whole hypothalamic homogenates preventing nuclear specificity, did not model litter effects, and lacked a baseline group at weaning to separate prenatal from postnatal effects.

“First, the study was conducted only on female rat pups. Therefore, it is not possible to generalize the results to male pups or directly to humans.”