Expression of the human relaxin gene in the corpus luteum of the menstrual cycle and in the prostate

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology Vol. 66; no. 2; pp. 251 - 255
• Main Authors: Ivell, Richard, Hunt, Nicholas, Khan-Dawood, Firyal, Dawood, M.Yusoff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Corpus Luteum - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - physiology; Human corpus luteum; Human prostate; Human testis; Humans; Male; Mammalian reproduction. General aspects; Menstrual Cycle; Molecular Sequence Data; Prostate - metabolism; Relaxin; Relaxin - genetics; Relaxin - metabolism; Relaxin-mRNA; Vertebrates: reproduction; Human testis; Relaxin-mRNA; Human corpus luteum; Menstrual cycle; Relaxin; Human prostate; Human; Relaxine; Molecular hybridization; Radiolabelling; Gene expression; Testicle; Male genital system; Ovarian hormone; Characterization; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Messenger RNA; Gene; DNA; Female genital system; Corpus luteum; Woman; Prostate
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/0303-7207(89)90037-3

DNA-RNA hybridization has been used to assess the presence of relaxin gene transcripts in human luteal tissues of pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, as well as in the human testis and prostate. The results imply a substantial capacity for hormone biosynthesis in the mid to late luteal phase of the ovary in non-pregnant women. In men the prostate has been shown also to express relaxin gene transcripts, though levels are low. The testis appears negative. The results suggest that functions for relaxin must be sought also outside pregnancy.