Document Detail


Relaxin--a review.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  6280666     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone, similar in structure to insulin and has been found in the female of all species studied. The corpus luteum of pregnancy is the main source of relaxin in many species but in others the decidua is apparently of greater importance. It has also been found in other tissues; e.g. prostatic fluid, testis and ovary. First discovered and extracted from the corpora lutea of pregnant sows in an impure form in 1926, it was found to relax the pubic ligament of the oestrogen primed guinea-pig. It was named after this action, but has since been found to have many other possible roles, including preparation of the endometrium for implantation, inhibition of uterine activity in early pregnancy, remodelling of the uterine stroma during pregnancy, cervical ripening and the initiation of parturition. Relaxin's main cellular action in pregnancy may be to drive collagen biosynthesis in its target organs, thus facilitating the remodelling of the connective tissue. Due to the impurity of relaxin preparations used in clinical trials until the mid-1970's, the role of relaxin in the human has been in doubt. Porcine and rat relaxins have now been highly purified and their detailed structure is known. Human relaxin awaits adequate isolation, purification and characterization, and is not yet available for laboratory and clinical trials. However, the recent preparation of purified porcine relaxin for clinical trials and the availability of specific radioimmunoassays for this relaxin together with the identification of relaxin receptor sites, are rapidly helping to establish the concept that relaxin is indeed an important hormone both in human reproduction and in other physiological processes.
Authors:
A H MacLennan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology     Volume:  21     ISSN:  0004-8666     ISO Abbreviation:  Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol     Publication Date:  1981 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1982-06-14     Completed Date:  1982-06-14     Revised Date:  2009-11-11    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0001027     Medline TA:  Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol     Country:  AUSTRALIA    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  195-202     Citation Subset:  IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Breast / physiology
Cervix Uteri / physiology
Chemical Phenomena
Chemistry
Endometrium / physiology
Female
Guinea Pigs
Mammary Glands, Animal / physiology
Myometrium / physiology
Pregnancy
Pubic Symphysis / physiology
Receptors, Cell Surface / isolation & purification
Relaxin* / isolation & purification,  metabolism,  physiology
Uterus / physiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Receptors, Cell Surface; 9002-69-1/Relaxin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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