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Gene/Protein
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Target Concepts:
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Query: UMLS:C0338671 (
Steroids
)
9,479
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The studies described here support the concept that
relaxin
is a product of the ovarian follicle and interacts with systemic hormones in the local regulation of the ovary. This report reviews the work indicating that
relaxin
is a product of the ovarian follicle and presents evidence for the biologic action of
relaxin
within the follicle. Production of
relaxin
by cells of the theca interna was given support by immunocytochemical localization work, in vitro production studies, and detection of
relaxin
mRNA by in situ hybridization. The
relaxin
content of porcine follicular fluid was shown to increase with development induced by gonadotropins. During thecal cell culture, luteinizing hormone and porcine follicular fluid increased
relaxin
secretion, whereas the presence of granulosa cells was without effect. A biologic action for
relaxin
on connective tissue remodeling was supported by an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated plasminogen activator activity by granulosa cells. Additional work is needed to investigate the possibility of other roles for
relaxin
within the follicle, to identify
relaxin
receptors, and to explore the interaction of
relaxin
with endocrine and other paracrine factors in the ovary.
Steroids
1991 May
PMID:Production and biologic action of relaxin within the ovarian follicle: an overview. 187 63
Although the growth promoting actions of
relaxin
on the reproductive tract have been well documented, the means by which
relaxin
stimulates reproductive tissue growth has not been identified. This report is an overview of studies from our laboratory investigating the role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in
relaxin
-induced growth of ovarian and uterine tissues. In the pig ovary, concentrations of
relaxin
that promote both theca and granulosa cell (GC) DNA synthesis in vitro also significantly (P < 0.05) increased GC IGF-I secretion. When IGF-I activity was blocked in the presence of an IGF-I antibody, the trophic effects of
relaxin
on GC [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA were inhibited. However, there was no effect of
relaxin
on GC IGF binding proteins or IGF-I receptor. In the uterus, in vivo
relaxin
administration to prepubertal pigs resulted in the stimulation of growth and increases in uterine luminal IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding proteins-2 and -3 secretion (P < 0.05). Thus, the trophic effects of
relaxin
on ovarian granulosa cells and the uterus involve tissue-specific changes in the IGF system. Additional studies are necessary to better understand the contribution of
relaxin
to follicular growth and uterine accommodation. These include characterization of the
relaxin
receptor and post-receptor binding events, as well as the potential impact of
relaxin
on other growth factor systems and how these systems interact to ultimately drive reproductive tissue growth.
Steroids
1999 Sep
PMID:Trophic effects of relaxin on reproductive tissue: role of the IGF system. 1050 21
