title: Relaxin receptors 1 and 2 and nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (glucocorticoid receptor) mRNAs are expressed in oral components of developing mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Relaxin is a pleiotropic hormone of the insulin-like peptide hormone family that plays an important role in reproductive physiology as well as in fibrosis, angiogenesis, and bone remodelling. It binds to the relaxin family peptide receptors 1 and 2 (Rxfp1 and Rxfp2) and can, in addition and independently, bind and activate the glucocorticoid receptor Nr3c1. Despite the wide-ranging effect of relaxin, the expression patterns of Rxfp1 and 2 during facial development have not been examined. In this study, we aimed to identify the mRNA expression patterns of Rxfp1, Rxfp2, and Nr3c1 in oral tissues during late mouse facial development in order to pinpoint the structures that could be sensitive to relaxin signalling during this period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rxfp1, Rxfp2, and Nr3c1 mRNAs were identified by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labelled riboprobes on coronal sections of mouse heads from embryonic days 13.5 to 18.5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that Rxfp1, Rxfp2, and Nr3c1 mRNAs were expressed on the developing maxilla and mandible, Meckel's cartilage, tongue, and tooth primordia between embryonic days 13.5-18.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Receptors that bind relaxin were present in developing oral tissues of mice. This finding suggests that relaxin may be involved in the prenatal development of the face.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Program, International Research Center for Molecular Science in Tooth and Bone Diseases, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. Electronic address: caromort@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Hard Tissue Genome Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. Electronic address: yukiho-kobayashi.mort@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukiho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Program, International Research Center for Molecular Science in Tooth and Bone Diseases, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. Electronic address: t-kawamoto.mort@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Function, Division of Maxillofacial/Neck Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; Hard Tissue Genome Research Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan; Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Program, International Research Center for Molecular Science in Tooth and Bone Diseases, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. Electronic address: k-moriyama.mort@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000196:embryology*; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*; D014059:Tongue / Q000196:embryology*; D014070:Tooth / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: C575863:NR3C1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C478103:RXFP1 protein, mouse; C555886:RXFP2 protein, mouse; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid
keywords: Craniofacial development; E; Gene expression; Nr3c1; Relaxin; Relaxin receptor; Relaxin receptors; Rln; Rxfp; embryonic; nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (glucocorticoid receptor)