title: Effects of relaxin and insulin on reproductive tract size and early fetal loss in Squalus acanthias.
abstract: These experiments demonstrate that both porcine relaxin and bovine insulin can increase the cervical cross-sectional area in Squalus acanthias. When given after estradiol priming, the magnitude of this response is greater. This effect is limited to Stage C females in which pregnancy is over 75% complete. The overall result is premature loss of developing fetuses. The effect of relaxin or insulin on cervical cross-sectional area and fetal loss is unrelated to an effect on blood sugar. Cervical weights are affected little by hormone treatment. Relaxin and insulin do not increase the cross-sectional area of the anterior uterine constriction. These results suggest the involvement of a relaxin-like molecule during normal parturition in the spiny dogfish.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004284:Dogfish / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012754:Sharks / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol; D012065:Relaxin