title: The binding of recombinant human relaxin to human spermatozoa.
abstract: Porcine relaxin has been reported to stimulate various human sperm functions. In this paper we report that human recombinant relaxin binds to human sperm with a high affinity (Kd = 6.5 x 10(-10)). The bound 125I-relaxin was not displaced by insulin, or human chorionic gonadotropin, however, it was displaced by unlabeled relaxin. In sperm function studies, recombinant human relaxin stimulated sperm motility, zona-free hamster egg penetration, and the acrosome reaction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 81432, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Carrell
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Urry
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007328:Insulin; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012065:Relaxin