title: Analysis of release of porcine relaxin by reverse haemolytic plaque assay: evidence for autoregulation.
abstract: Relaxin release from monodispersed luteal cells derived from pregnant pigs (days 100-110 of gestation; n = 3) was detected by a reverse haemolytic plaque assay. In this technique, luteal cells were co-cultured in monolayers with ovine erythrocytes coupled to protein-A. In the presence of porcine relaxin antiserum and complement, a zone of haemolysis--a plaque--developed around relaxin-releasing luteal cells. Luteal cells were preincubated with porcine relaxin (up to 1000 ng/ml) or progesterone (up to 0.5 micrograms/ml) for 18 h before the plaque assay. Relaxin (but not progesterone) pretreatment inhibited subsequent relaxin release. The inhibitory effect of relaxin on its own release (autoregulation) has the potential to be a significant part of the local mechanisms which contribute to the overall control of ovarian secretion of protein hormones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012065:Relaxin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D012065:Relaxin