Tissue-specific effects of relaxin on the reproductive tract of neonatal gilts.
In the pig, relaxin treatment for 2 d from birth (postnatal day 0, PND 0) was not uterotrophic, but it increased cervical size. To understand the mechanism underlying this tissue-specific response, relaxin receptor (LGR7) expression in the neonatal uterus and cervix was investigated. At PND 2, quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that LGR7 levels were higher in the cervix than in the uterus. Interestingly, relaxin decreased cervical LGR7 expression when compared to that of the controls. Differential expression of LGR7 between uterine and cervical tissues may contribute to tissue-specific relaxin responsiveness in the neonatal porcine reproductive tract.
Yan
Wenbo
W
Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Wiley
Anne A
AA
Bartol
Frank F
FF
Bagnell
Carol A
CA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009928:Organ Specificity; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012065:Relaxin