title: A possible ambivalent role for relaxin in human myometrial and decidual cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on the reported tocolytic action of the hormone relaxin (RLX) in rodents, locally produced in reproductive tissues and the corpus luteum in mammals, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of RLX on contraction-mediating cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 (COX) and the contractile prostaglandin PGE(2) in human myometrial and decidual cells. Primary cultured cells were obtained from uteri and placentas of term and preterm women undergoing elective caesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro culture of primary myometrial and decidual cells, immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription and real-time PCR, Western blot, ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate for the first time an activating effect of RLX for human COX-1 and COX-2 in primary myometrial and decidual cells in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These effects might potentially contribute to birth-associated induction of contractions in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany. baston-buest@unikid.de
authors.forename: Dunja M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Baston-Büst
authors.forename: Alexandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirchenhain
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krücken
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wunderlich
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Krüssel
authors.forename: Ulrike K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Friebe-Hoffmann