title: Canine relaxin-like factor: unique molecular structure and differential expression within reproductive tissues of the dog.
abstract: Employing postpubertal testicular tissue, we determined the cDNA coding sequence of a truncated canine relaxin-like factor (RLF) consisting of a signal peptide of 28 amino acids (aa), a B-domain of 23 aa, a truncated C-domain of 34 aa, and an A domain of 26 aa, respectively. Within the B-domain of canine RLF, the putative relaxin receptor binding motif contained a single substitution with the C-terminal arginine replaced by a serine residue, and the putative RLF receptor binding motif was truncated. Leydig cells specifically expressed RLF in the normal postpubertal and cryptochid testis as well as in testicular Leydig cell adenoma. The epididymis was an additional source of RLF in the dog. In the female reproductive tract, expression of immunoreactive RLF and relaxin were compared. Within the ovary, RLF, but not relaxin, was detected in follicular theca interna and granulosa cells and the corpus luteum. In the nonpregnant uterus, luminal and glandular epithelium coexpressed RLF and relaxin. Uteroplacental tissue at early stages of gestation revealed RLF expression in the proliferative fetal villous cytotrophoblast and in maternal uterine cells. In the mature canine placenta, the trophoblast surrounding the maternal blood vessels and the hemophagous cytotrophoblast of the paraplacental zone expressed RLF. Canine relaxin was absent in the paraplacental areas. Western analysis of placental tissue extracts revealed the presence of specific immunoreactive bands likely resembling unprocessed and enzymatically cleaved RLF. Differential expression of RLF and relaxin appears to reflect distinct autocrine and paracrine functions of RLF in canine reproductive tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Medicine, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany. thomas.klonisch@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klonisch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauffold
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leiser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hombach-Klonisch
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004076:Digoxigenin; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000378:metabolism*; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007328:Insulin; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004076:Digoxigenin