Neurobiology Research Unit

Agnete Høyer Bentsen

MSc, PhD student

Scientific interests| Biography
Publications | Address

Scientific interests

Kisspeptin and pubertal development

The peptide kisspeptin and its receptor GPR54 have played a crucial role in the field of reproductive research since 2003. The most compelling evidence for their significance comes from studies of families with inherited mutations in GPR54, which cause infertility and lack of puberty.
The major aim of my project is to determine to what extent the kisspeptin neurons are the target and the functional determinant of the development under puberty, and in other studies to determine whether these neurons are affected in pubertal dysregulation.
To study the influence of different metabolic and inflammatory challenges (such as LPS treatment, fasting, diet-induced obesity and diabetes), we will map the changes in the kisspeptin system using quantitative immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. If kisspeptin is down-regulated by any of these manipulations, we will investigate whether kisspeptin injections can rescue reproduction.
We will also investigate whether kisspeptin is affected by endocrine disrupting chemicals at different developmental stages. Finally, we will set up a quantitative assay to determine plasma serum concentrations of kisspeptin in man. The aim is to measure kisspeptin in blood samples collected from children with different developmental disorders. We will use the knowledge from the experimental models to obtain a detailed physiologic understanding of the phenotypes seen in man.

Biography

2010 -	PhD student at the Neurobiology Research Unit
2009 - 2010	Research assistant, NRU and Department of Growth and Reproduction
2006 - 2009	MSc in Human Biology, University of Copenhagen
2003 - 2006	BSc in Biology, University of Copenhagen

Publications

Mikkelsen, J.D., Bentsen, A.H., Ansel, L., Simonneaux, V., and Juul, A. (2009). Comparison of the effects of peripherally administered kisspeptins. Regulatory peptides 152, 95-100.
Bentsen, A.H., Ansel, L., Simonneaux, V., Tena-Sempere, M., Juul, A. and Mikkelsen, J.D. (2010). Maturation of the kisspeptinergic neurons in the arcuate nucleus coincides with puberty onset in male rats. Peptides 31, 275-83.

Address

Neurobiology Research Unit
Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Phone: +45 3545 6704
Fax: +45 3545 6713
E-mail: agnete.bentsen#nru.dk