Validation of commercially available EIA kit for measurement of feline plasma kisspeptin

Abstract

Circulating kisspeptin is described to be related with the reproductive system. A study of plasma kisspeptin levels,
thus, will provide the better understanding of reproductive endocrinology in the domestic cat. The present study aimed
(i) to validate the only available commercial kisspeptin EIA kit which is currently used in humans to be used in domestic
cats and (ii) to determine and compare the plasma kisspeptin levels at different reproductive stages. The intra-assay
coefficient of variation (CV) was 11.13%. The inter-assay CV ranged from 5.00 – 8.25%. The parallel graphs represented
the homology between human kisspeptin and feline endogenous kisspeptin. The recovery rate ranged from 78% - 106%.
To compare the plasma kisspeptin levels among reproductive status, plasma samples were collected from the
prepubertal female cats (n = 6) and sexually mature female cats with an inactive (n = 6) and follicular staged (n = 6).
Although no statistically significant difference in the plasma kisspeptin concentration between reproductive stages was
observed, there was a tendency that the plasma kisspeptin levels were higher in the prepuberal cats compared with
pubertal cats. In conclusion, the commercial EIA kit can be used to determine plasma kisspeptin in the domestic cats.