Kisspeptin plays a critical role in pubertal timing and reproductive function. In rodents,
kisspeptin perikarya within the hypothalamic arcuate (
ARC) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei are thought to be involved in LH pulse and surge generation, respectively. Using bilateral microinjections of recombinant adeno-associated virus encoding
kisspeptin antisense into the
ARC or AVPV of female rats at postnatal day 10, we investigated the relative importance of these two
kisspeptin populations in the control of pubertal timing, estrous cyclicity, and LH surge and pulse generation. A 37% knockdown of
kisspeptin in the AVPV resulted in a significant delay in vaginal opening and first vaginal estrous, abnormal estrous cyclicity, and reduction in the occurrence of spontaneous LH surges, although these retained normal amplitude. This AVPV knockdown had no effect on LH pulse frequency, measured after
ovariectomy. A 32% reduction of
kisspeptin in the
ARC had no effect on the onset of puberty but resulted in abnormal estrous cyclicity and decreased LH pulse frequency. Additionally, the knockdown of
kisspeptin in the
ARC decreased the amplitude but not the incidence of LH surges. These results might suggest that the role of AVPV
kisspeptin in the control of pubertal timing is particularly sensitive to perturbation. In accordance with our previous studies,
ARC kisspeptin signaling was critical for normal pulsatile LH secretion in female rats. Despite the widely reported role of AVPV
kisspeptin neurons in LH surge generation, this study suggests that both AVPV and
ARC populations are essential for normal LH surges and estrous cyclicity.