title: Effects of relaxin on matrix remodeling enzyme activity of cultured equine ovarian stromal cells.
abstract: Relaxin participates in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in many reproductive organs, including the ovary, by regulating proteolytic enzyme activity. Accumulated evidence indicates this action of relaxin is involved in ovarian follicle development and ovulation. Equine follicles are embedded in cortex that is at the center of the ovary and they must expand/emigrate to the fossa, the only site in the ovary for ovulation. Due to the tremendous expansion of the follicle in this species, we hypothesized that ovarian stromal remodeling would be extensive. Therefore, cultured equine ovarian stromal cell (EOSC) lines were obtained from stroma at the apex of large follicles and the effects of relaxin on gelatinases A and B, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), plasminogen activators (PAs) and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activities were assessed. Our results showed that equine relaxin increased the activity of total gelatinase A (both pro forms and mature forms) and latent progelatinase B present in conditioned medium, latent progelatinase A present in cell extracts, and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 present in conditioned medium. This study also revealed that equine relaxin increased the urokinase-type PA activity in conditioned medium and cell extracts, tissue-type PA activity in ECM and PAI-1 activity in conditioned medium. These results suggest that relaxin may contribute to equine follicle growth and migration, and facilitate ovulation by modulating the degradation of ECM in ovarian stromal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Coomber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D012065:Relaxin; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9