title: Central effects of long-term relaxin expression in the rat.
abstract: A recombinant adenovirus containing the human H2 preprorelaxin (hH2) cDNA and a reporter gene was coinjected with a transactivator virus (Ad-tTA) into the lateral cerebral ventricles of female rats. Cardiovascular effects were measured over a 21-day period. Circulating vasopressin in the periphery was significantly greater (P < .0001) in the relaxin-treated group throughout the experimental period, compared with controls. There was a significant decrease in plasma osmolality (P < .05) by approximately 10 mmol/L in the treated group by day 14. Immunofluorescence for hH2 present in cryosections showed rAd transduction and hH2 expression from ependymal cells of the ventricular system. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of hH2 to the brain is capable of producing bioactive relaxin that affects cardiovascular parameters.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5g-2M1, Canada.
authors.forename: Josh D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Silvertown
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Roman S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Poterski
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Alastair J S
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Summerlee
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014667:Vasopressins; C034820:preprorelaxin; D012065:Relaxin