Investigating the Effects of Kisspeptin on Human Brain Processing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Physiological Studies to Investigate the Effects of Kisspeptin on Human Brain Processing.
IRAS ID
222683
Contact name
Waljit Dhillo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Compliance Office, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Psychosexual dysfunction affects 1 in 3 individuals, impairs quality of life and costs the NHS over £32 million/year. Current therapies have limited efficacy coupled with multiple side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need to develop safer and more effective treatments through a deeper understanding of human sexual and emotional brain processing. The limbic system is an area of the brain known to control memory and emotions related to sexual desire and reproductive behaviours. The limbic system interacts with reproductive brain areas and sensory centres such as those related to smell. Kisspeptin is a hormone which is widely expressed in the human limbic system as well as brain areas that control reproduction and smell. Kisspeptin reduces sexual aversion and negative mood when given to healthy men with specific brain activity changes seen on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In animals, kisspeptin is closely linked with smell, sexual behaviours, mood and memory. This physiological study will investigate whether kisspeptin has similar effects on human brain processing using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants will be recruited into groups of healthy men and women and those with psychological disorders. Participants will attend for two study visits each, during which they will receive either kisspeptin or placebo and undergo an fMRI scan. During the scan participants will be presented with standardised tasks designed to activate sensory, emotional and reproductive brain pathways so that kisspeptin’s modulation of these pathways can be measured.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1099
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion