Identification of boar testis as a source and target tissue of relaxin.
The expression and cellular localization of relaxin and its own receptor, LGR7/RXFP1, were demonstrated in the boar testis, where relaxin was produced by the Leydig cells as 18-kDa pro-relaxin and LGR7/RXFP1 was detected in both Leydig cells and seminiferous epithelial cells, suggesting that a functional relaxin-LGR7/RXFP1 hormone-receptor network operates within the boar testis.
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan. t-kohsaka@agr.shizuoka.ac.jp
Tetsuya
T
Kohsaka
Shinichi
S
Kato
Si
S
Qin
Itaru
I
Minagawa
Keiichiro
K
Yogo
Tatsuo
T
Kawarasaki
Hiroshi
H
Sasada
D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012065:Relaxin