Journal article
Examination of relaxin and its receptors expression in pig gametes and embryos
Jean M Feugang, Juan C Rodriguez-Munoz, Scott T Willard, Ross A Bathgate, Peter L Ryan
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | BMC | Published : 2011
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Relaxin is a small peptide also known as pregnancy hormone in many mammals. It is synthesized by both male and female tissues, and its secretions are found in various body fluids such as plasma serum, ovarian follicular fluid, utero-oviduct secretions, and seminal plasma of many mammals, including pigs. However, the presence and effects of relaxin in porcine gametes and embryos are still not well-known. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of relaxin and its receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 in pig gametes and embryos. METHODS: Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from sows' ovaries collected at the abattoir. After in vitro-maturation, COCs were in vitr..
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Awarded by USDA-ARS Biophotonics Initiative project
Funding Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the USDA-ARS Biophotonics Initiative project#58-6402-3-0120 and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). We thank the Southern Quality Meats (Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA) for facilitating the collection of ovaries. We are grateful to the Electron Microscope Center at Mississippi State University for allowing access to the Laser Scanning Microscope.