TY - JOUR
T1 - Relaxin in the Pregnant Baboon
T2 - Evidence for Local Production in Reproductive Tissues
AU - Castracane, V. Daniel
AU - Lessing, Joseph
AU - Brenner, Steven
AU - Weiss, Gerson
PY - 1985/1
Y1 - 1985/1
N2 - We examined the nonluteal production of relaxin in the pregnant baboon. In experimental animals (n = 5), the corpus luteum-bearing ovary was removed in early pregnancy (days 25-30), and intact pregnant baboons served as controls. In both groups of baboons, peripheral, uterine, and ovarian venous blood samples and amniotic fluid were collected immediately before hysterotomy, which was performed late in pregnancy (days 139-142). After hysterotomy, samples of reproductive and control tissues were obtained (placenta, decidua, myometrium, fetal membranes, and omentum). Relaxin concentrations were determined in all samples using an antiporcine relaxin RIA. In unilaterally oophorectomized pregnant baboons, peripheral plasma levels of relaxin were below the limits of detection (<157 pg/ml) for 100 days following corpus luteum removal, while levels in control pregnant baboons were greater than 1000 pg/ml. Relaxin levels in uterine venous plasma were comparable to peripheral plasma levels in each group. Relaxin concentrations in amniotic fluid of both groups were below the limits of detection (<157 pg/ml). Relaxin was found in decidua, placenta, and myometrium in those pregnant baboons in which the corpus luteum-bearing ovary had been removed over 100 days earlier. This finding together with the absence of a relaxin gradient in uterin venous plasma and undetectable relaxin levels in amniotic fluid is a strong indication of local relaxin production in reproductive tissues without contribution to peripheral plasma levels.
AB - We examined the nonluteal production of relaxin in the pregnant baboon. In experimental animals (n = 5), the corpus luteum-bearing ovary was removed in early pregnancy (days 25-30), and intact pregnant baboons served as controls. In both groups of baboons, peripheral, uterine, and ovarian venous blood samples and amniotic fluid were collected immediately before hysterotomy, which was performed late in pregnancy (days 139-142). After hysterotomy, samples of reproductive and control tissues were obtained (placenta, decidua, myometrium, fetal membranes, and omentum). Relaxin concentrations were determined in all samples using an antiporcine relaxin RIA. In unilaterally oophorectomized pregnant baboons, peripheral plasma levels of relaxin were below the limits of detection (<157 pg/ml) for 100 days following corpus luteum removal, while levels in control pregnant baboons were greater than 1000 pg/ml. Relaxin levels in uterine venous plasma were comparable to peripheral plasma levels in each group. Relaxin concentrations in amniotic fluid of both groups were below the limits of detection (<157 pg/ml). Relaxin was found in decidua, placenta, and myometrium in those pregnant baboons in which the corpus luteum-bearing ovary had been removed over 100 days earlier. This finding together with the absence of a relaxin gradient in uterin venous plasma and undetectable relaxin levels in amniotic fluid is a strong indication of local relaxin production in reproductive tissues without contribution to peripheral plasma levels.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0022006879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1210/jcem-60-1-133
DO - 10.1210/jcem-60-1-133
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AN - SCOPUS:0022006879
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 60
SP - 133
EP - 136
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 1
ER -