Conference Proceedings
Chemical synthesis and relaxin activity of rat insulin 3
KJ Smith, RA Bathgate, AA Claasz, NF Dawson, L Otvos, GW Tregear, JD Wade, GW Tregear (ed.), R Ivell (ed.), RA Bathgate (ed.), JD Wade (ed.)
RELAXIN 2000 | SPRINGER | Published : 2001
Abstract
Insulin 3 (INSL3; also called the relaxin-like factor, RLF, or Leydig cell insulin-like peptide, Ley I-L) is a recently identified member of the insulin-relaxin superfamily of peptide hormones. It is primarily expressed in the Leydig cells of the testis and thecal cells of the ovary [1]. Recently, two independent groups developed knockout mice for INSL3 [2,3]. The major phenotype in these animals was the lack of testis descent in the male and an alteration in oestrous cycle length in females, both resulting in a dramatic decrease in fertility.