Breakthrough in research sex hormone

Researchers have made huge progress in understanding how the brain influences sex. In female mice the hormone kisspeptin is responsible for attractiveness for male mice, but also for sexual behavior of the females.

The research team is led by professor Julie Bakker of the university of Liege and professor Ulrich Boehm of the Saarland university. They published their findings in Nature Communications.

Their research is a breakthrough in understanding sexual behavior, that is essential for the survival of many species. With mice, mating success is dependent of the choice of a mating partner and sexual behavior.

Sex hormone kisspeptin

Kisspeptin is a molecule in the brain that is known known for influencing puberty and fertility. This recent research also shows that neurons of this substance in the hypothalamus, is responsible for how attractive mice are to the opposite sex and how they behave sexually. Kisspeptin is being triggered when females smell the male odors.

This research shows how kisspeptin links puberty, ovulation, fertility, attractiveness and sex, according to Boehm.

Viagra for women?

The researchers dare to say that this could have consequences for the treatment of women with a low libido (hyposexual desire disorder). The current ‘viagra for women’ is not very effective and is very controversial.