A simple biological assay for relaxin measurement

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology Vol. 99; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Authors: Del Angel Meza, A.R., Beas-Zárate, C., Alfaro, F.L., Morales-Villagran, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 1991; Pergamon
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Chromatography, Gel; Electrophysiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Ileum - drug effects; Ileum - physiology; Insulin - isolation & purification; Insulin - pharmacology; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Ovary - chemistry; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Relaxin - analysis; Relaxin - pharmacology; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - physiology; Vertebrates: reproduction; Measurement; Relaxine; Methodology; Rat; Rodentia; Peptide hormone; Electrophysiology; Method; Ovarian hormone; Pregnancy; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Uterus; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0306-4492; 0742-8413
• DOI: 10.1016/0742-8413(91)90071-Z

1. Relaxin (R) is considered a gestation hormone with an insulin-like molecular structure. Its physiological importance is significant in the reproduction process. 2. Different methods of biologically assaying R have been published but electrophysiology techniques on uterus and ileum of rat have never been used. 3. A protein fraction was obtained from ovarian tissue of the rat and used to measure electrophysiological activity in vivo and in vitro. 4. Protein recovered with R activity was similar to that in previous reports. 5. Reduction of 100% in contraction strength and 50% in its frequency was observed in ileum and in uterus respectively; it was only of 60%, but its frequency increased 43%. 6. Methodological considerations and some physiological aspects are discussed.