Identification of consensus sequences in the rat relaxin promoter which bind nuclear proteins

Abstract

Relaxin is a peptide hormone that plays an important role in reproduction. Regulation of relaxin gene expression occurs via both tissue-specific and temporal mechanisms. In the rat, relaxin is mainly produced by the corpus luteum of the ovary during the later stage of pregnancy [1]. The corpus luteum during the menstrual cycles also produces relaxin, but the level is 200–400 fold lower than that in pregnancy [2]. In addition to the ovary, relaxin mRNA has also been detected in a number of rat tissues, including the prostate gland, uterus, pancreas and brain [3].