When the KiSS-1 gene was first discovered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the clever researchers decided to name it for the locale's famous goodie, Hershey's chocolate kiss candies. Now, endocrinology researchers have learned that a related hormone, kisspeptin, can nudge some women closer to ovulating.
The trick happens after injections of the hormone. Volunteers in an experiment soon began demonstrating an observable rise in luteinising hormone (LH) -- that's the hormone your ovulation predictor kits measure. LH is necessary to stimulate ovulation.
The researchers are looking forward to more data to confirm that Kisspeptin could be yet another way to help women with ovulatory function conceive with their own eggs.
Sweet.