Kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons in the mammalian brain release the neuropeptide kisspeptin, stimulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release and activating the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, which controls fertility and reproduction: pulsatile release of GnRH from the hypothalamus is required for gametogenesis and the production of sex steroid hormones (1).

Kiss1 neurons in the arcuate nucleus from female mice show neuronal plasticity just before the onset of puberty, showing differences between 3 weeks and 7-8 weeks of age in action potential firing and ion channel expression (2).

Sex differences in the firing properties of amygdala Kiss1 neurons from adult mice (19 weeks), which are implicated in sexual behavior. (3).

In female mice, estrous cycle stage is determined by cytological examination of vaginal lavages over several days (4).

Review the full Application note for detailed procedures and working examples.

1. Trim brain to remove unnecessary tissue.
2. Create ice-cold sucrose-based solution.
3. Brains are rapidly removed and submerged in solution.
4. Affix to vibratome stage for slicing.
5. Slice tissue and transfer slices to prepared incubation chamber for storage.

1. Brain Slice of adult male mouse hypothalamus through the arcuate nucleus with a low power and green light to reveal tdTomato-expressing Kiss1 neurons.
2. High power light image of arcuate neuron
3. Same cell as (B) in green light
4. Changes in evoked action potential firing in arcuate Kiss1 neurons of female mice at puberty

1. d’Anglemont de Tassigny X and Colledge WH. The role of kisspeptin signaling in reproduction. Physiology (Bethesda). 2010 Aug;25(4):207-17. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00009.2010. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00009.2010
2. Y. Zhang, et al. Neuronal plasticity at puberty in mouse hypothalamic Kiss1 neurons that control fertility, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (43) e2512855122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2512855122 (2025).
3. S. H. Yeo, et al. Visualisation of Kiss1 Neurone Distribution Using a Kiss1-CRE Transgenic Mouse. J Neuroendocrinol 28 https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12435 (2016).
4. G. Gonzalez. Determining the Stage of the Estrous Cycle in Female Mice by Vaginal Smear. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2016 https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot094474 (2016).