Journal article
Progesterone withdrawal, and not increased circulating relaxin, mediates the decrease in myometrial relaxin receptor (RXFP1) expression in late gestation in rats
LA Vodstrcil, O Shynlova, K Westcott, R Laker, E Simpson, ME Wlodek, LJ Parry
Biology of Reproduction | OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC | Published : 2010
Abstract
In pregnant rats, a significant decrease in myometrial relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) expression, indicative of a functional relaxin withdrawal for activation of myometrial contractions, occurs in late gestation and during spontaneous labor. This coincides with the highest level of circulating relaxin and a decrease in progesterone. We investigated the potential regulatory role of these two systemic factors on myometrial RXFP1 expression by examining the effects of the antiprogestin RU486 and a monoclonal antibody against rat relaxin (MCA1) in pregnant rats. Rats were injected with RU486 on Gestational Day (GD) 7, 16, or 19 and were killed on GD 8, 17, or 20. RU486 caused a signif..
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Awarded by CIHR
Funding Acknowledgements
Supported by NH&MRC Australia grants (M.E.W.), CIHR 37775 (O.S.), and a Melbourne University Research Grant (L.J.P.). L.A.V. was funded by an NH&MRC Australia Dora Lush Postgraduate Scholarship and received an Albert Shimmens Memorial Fund Award.