Abstract
The ovarian peptide hormone relaxin causes distinct changes of the birth canal before parturition in most mammals (Hisaw, 1926; Hisaw and Zarrow, 1950). Rapid widening of the pubic symphysis and increased dilatability of the cervix are notable changes which accompany administration of relaxin to several species (Hisaw and Zarrow, 1950; Steinetz et al. 1957; Kroc et al. 1959; O’Byrne et al. 1976). These changes are a reflection of the profound effect that relaxin has on the connective tissues of the pubic symphysis and uterus. RIA data confirm that serum levels of this hormone in the pig, mouse, rat and guinea pig increase significantly within hours of parturition and drop sharply thereafter (Sherwood et al. 1975; 1975; O’Byrne and Steinetz, 1976). Recently several studies have confirmed that relaxin binds in a specific manner to its target tissues (Cheah and Sherwood, 1979; McMurtry et al. 1978). In a quest to better understand the biochemical events which follow relaxin treatment and precede the known biological changes, two specific cellular responses were chosen for study: changes in cAMP concentrations and stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity.
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© 1982 Plenum Press, New York
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Braddon, S.A. (1982). The Effects of Relaxin on Cyclic-Amp and Ornithine Decarboxylase Levels in Target Tissues. In: Anderson, R.R. (eds) Relaxin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 143. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3368-5_23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3368-5_23
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