title: Relaxin and decidualization in mice: a reappraisal.
abstract: The nature of the physiological stimulus inducing decidualization in the endometrium is unknown. In this study we attempted to verify a recent report that relaxin can induce decidualization in intact mice primed with a high dose of estradiol valerate (5 micrograms) and a low dose (10 micrograms) of medroxyprogesterone acetate. In our study, neither s.c. nor intrauterine relaxin, nor intraluminal arachis oil, (an established deciduogenic stimulus) were able to induce decidualization. In addition, while oil was able to induce decidualization (increased uterine weight, and positive Pontamine Sky Blue and stromal alkaline phosphatase reactions) in ovariectomized mice treated with a regimen of estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate designed to produce optimum uterine sensitivity, no decidualization occurred in response to either s.c. or intraluminal relaxin. This study fails to provide any support for a role for relaxin as a deciduogenic stimulus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. finn@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Milligan
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012065:Relaxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D004958:Estradiol; D012065:Relaxin; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase