Background The Kisspeptin system plays a critical regulatory role in female reproductive functions. However, its role is not yet investigated in primary female infertility (PFI).
Materials and Methods This is a case-control study of consenting primarily infertile (54) and fertile (50) Nigerian females aged between 20 and 44 years who sought consult at University College Hospital, Ibadan. Basic clinical and demographic data were obtained from the participants using a clinical proforma. Five ml of blood were collected by venepuncture for kisspeptin, KISS1, and KISS1R gene expression analysis within the plasma using ELISA and RT-qPCR techniques. The menarcheal age and BMI of the cases and controls were also investigated as possible predictors of PFI.
Result There was no significant change in the relative expression of Kisspeptin, KISS1, and KISS1R genes (p>0.05) in the plasma of the primarily infertile women (PIW) compared to the fertile women (FW). PIW with early menarche showed a significantly lower level of Kisspeptin compared to PIW with normal menarche (p=0.03). Plasma Kisspeptin levels in PIW showed a weak negative correlation (r = −.305; p=0.039) and a good predictive model for KISS1 gene expression (p=0.001; r=0.458). There was a significant difference in KISS1 gene expression in PIW when compared based on their menarcheal age categories (p=0.04).
Conclusion Kisspeptin levels, KISS1, and KISS1R gene expression levels in the blood may not be useful for diagnosing PFI. However, menarcheal age should be investigated as an additional diagnostic indicator for PFI.
Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
Funding StatementThis study was funded by the African Union Commission through a research grant awarded to Dr Izuchukwu Azuka Okafor at the Pan African University of Life and Earth Science Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), PAULESI, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Author DeclarationsI confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:
Ethics committee/IRB of University of Ibadan/University College Hospital (UI/UCH) gave ethical approval for this work (Assigned number: UI/EC/20/0220; Registration Number: NHREC/05/01/2008a).
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I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).
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Data Availability and sharing statementAll data used for this study are available upon reasonable request to the authors
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