Plasma kisspeptin levels in pubertal gynecomastia cases

Gynecomastia is a benign proliferation of the mammary gland in males which might be unilateral or bilateral. It has been thought that the development of gynecomastia is due to the imbalance of between estrogens and androgens.Kisspeptin is a polypeptide that consisting 145 aminoacids and has an important role in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Binding of kisspeptin to GPR54 receptor results to activating of phospolipase-C and as a result of this, gonadotropins are released from the GnRH neurons.The pathogenesis of pubertal gynecomastia has not be shown exactly until today. The role of kisspeptin in puberty is known. Because of pubertal gynecomastia occurs in the early stages of puberty, there can be a role of kisspeptin in the development of gynecomastia. The target of this study is to reveal a relationship between kisspeptin and gynecomastia.This study is performed on 40 boys who are between 9-18 years old and referred to Fırat University Medicine School Department of Pediatrics Endocrinology and diagnosed as gynecomastia. Control group is formed from 30 healthy adolescent boys who are in same ages. The plasma kisspeptin levels are studied from the serums of participants that are taken in appropriate conditions at the morning on an empty stomach. The plasma kisspeptin level of participants is studied by the ELISA method.Significant difference has not been found between anthropometric quantitatives, puberty stages, plasma gonadotropin and estrogen levels (p>0.05). Plasma kisspeptin (0,77 ve 0,54 ng/mL, p<0,05) and testosterone (253.9 ng/dL, 117.9 ng/dL, p<0.001) levels were significantly higher in pubertal gynecomastia group more than control group.At the result higher levels of kisspeptin in pubertal gynecomastia group support that kisspeptin has an important role in development of pubertal gynecomastia.