No. 047 · Hormones & Drive · Hormonal Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Also known as: KP-10Metastin 45-54Kisspeptin(112–121)
- Not FDA approved
- WADA ✗ S2 (males)
2D structure from PubChem CID 25240297 (Kisspeptin-10), matched by molecular formula. Hydrogens on carbon are implied.
- Nonpolar 5
- Polar 4
- Positive charge 1
Each dot is a residue placed around the ring from N- to C-terminus; its distance from the centre reflects its chemistry.
Quick answers
- What is Kisspeptin-10?
- A hypothalamic neuropeptide that sits atop the reproductive axis, stimulating GnRH release and downstream LH/FSH secretion.
- How strong is the evidence for Kisspeptin-10?
- Tier A (controlled human trials) on the peptidemeta evidence scale. A small randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy men (2026) plus several controlled physiology studies showing it raises LH. Not approved for any use.
- Is Kisspeptin-10 FDA-approved?
- No. Kisspeptin-10 is not approved by the FDA for any use.
- Is Kisspeptin-10 banned in sport?
- Yes. Kisspeptin-10 is prohibited in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency under S2 (males) (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics).
- How does Kisspeptin-10 work?
- Kisspeptin-10 is the minimal active fragment of the kisspeptin family that binds the KISS1R (GPR54) receptor on hypothalamic GnRH neurons. This activation triggers GnRH pulse release into the portal circulation, which subsequently stimulates pituitary gonadotrophs to secrete LH and FSH, making kisspeptin the master upstream regulator of the reproductive axis.
- What is known about the safety of Kisspeptin-10?
- Studied only in small controlled research settings. In one study, gonadotropin levels returned to placebo levels after 5 days of continuous infusion (tachyphylaxis), while daily intermittent infusions kept their effect for 12 days.
Last reviewed · editorial policy · markdown
Evidence
- D In vitro
- C Animal
- B Human pilot
- A RCT
- S Approved
TIER A — At least one published randomized controlled trial in humans.
A small randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy men (2026) plus several controlled physiology studies showing it raises LH. Not approved for any use.
Tiers rate the strength of published evidence — not effectiveness, safety, or a recommendation.
At a glance
- Residues
- 10 amino acids, N→C
- Molecular weight
- 1,302.4 Da
- Formula
- C63H83N17O14
- Routes studied
- Subcutaneous, Intravenous Routes used in published research
- FDA
- Not approved
- WADA
- Prohibited · S2 (males)
Sequence
Note Residues 112–121 of the KISS1 precursor (UniProt Q15726); C-terminal amide. Shortest form that fully activates the receptor; distinct from the 54-residue kisspeptin-54.
Overview
A hypothalamic neuropeptide that sits atop the reproductive axis, stimulating GnRH release and downstream LH/FSH secretion. Explored for fertility and reproductive endocrinology.
Research status Small controlled human physiology studies, including a 2026 randomized placebo-controlled study of subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 in men; IVF trials have mainly used the longer kisspeptin-54
Mechanism
Kisspeptin-10 is the minimal active fragment of the kisspeptin family that binds the KISS1R (GPR54) receptor on hypothalamic GnRH neurons. This activation triggers GnRH pulse release into the portal circulation, which subsequently stimulates pituitary gonadotrophs to secrete LH and FSH, making kisspeptin the master upstream regulator of the reproductive axis.
Effects reported in research
Reported outcomes, not promises. Some come from controlled human trials; others may be from smaller or preclinical studies — check the studies below.
- Stimulated GnRH and gonadotropin secretion
- Potential fertility treatment applications
- Diagnostic marker for reproductive axis function
- Modulated pubertal onset signaling
Safety & unknowns
Studied only in small controlled research settings. In one study, gonadotropin levels returned to placebo levels after 5 days of continuous infusion (tachyphylaxis), while daily intermittent infusions kept their effect for 12 days. Not FDA-approved.
Unknowns. Trial safety data apply to the populations, formulations and conditions studied.
Informational only — not medical advice. peptidemeta publishes no dosing, protocols, or sourcing. Talk to a qualified clinician about any treatment decision.
Studies [2]
- Clinical trial 2026
Chronic subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin secretion for 12 days in healthy men
Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in which daily 8-hour subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 infusions kept LH, FSH and testosterone raised for 12 days, whereas continuous infusion lost its gonadotropin effect by day 5.
- Clinical trial 2011
The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans
Kisspeptin-10 raised LH and FSH in healthy men at low doses, but in women it raised gonadotropins only during the preovulatory phase, not the follicular phase.
Status sources
Sources behind the tier, regulatory status, sequence and dates on this page.
- Yeung et al. 2026 — randomized placebo-controlled study of subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 in men pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Jayasena et al. 2015 — kisspeptin-10 vs kisspeptin-54 vs GnRH in healthy men pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- UniProt Q15726 — KiSS-1 (kisspeptin-10 = residues 112–121) uniprot.org
- PubChem CID 25240297 (kisspeptin-10) pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- WADA 2026 Prohibited List — S2.2.1 kisspeptin and its agonist analogues (males) wada-ama.org
Cite this entry
peptidemeta. (2026). Kisspeptin-10. In peptidemeta: The peptide library, ranked by evidence. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://peptidemeta.com/p/kisspeptin-10/
@misc{peptidemeta-kisspeptin-10,
title = {Kisspeptin-10},
author = {{peptidemeta}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://peptidemeta.com/p/kisspeptin-10/}},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-08}
} Accessed date reflects when you opened this page. Cite primary studies for scientific claims.