Abstract
The first report describing an action of relaxin on the brain was published in 1984 [1]. Exogenous administration of porcine relaxin in lactating rats suppressed relaxin milk-ejection and it was suggested that relaxin might be inhibiting the release of oxytocin (Fig. 1). Since that time there have been several studies showing that relaxin affects the release of a number of hypothalamo-pituitary hormones [2]. It has been suggested that relaxin may have a physiological role in the timing of birth [3], cardiovascular control, particularly in pregnancy [2] and water balance in pregnancy [4,5]. One of the fundamental question in this area of relaxin research is whether relaxin acts ‘on or ‘in’ the brain to have its affects. This paper explores the evidence that suggests that relaxin may act ‘on’ the brain by binding to receptors at intermediary sites, notably the pituitary gland or the circumventricular organs. It may also act ‘in’ the brain where it may be produced and released locally to have its effects.
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Summerlee, A.J.S., Silvertown, J.D. (2001). Relaxin action on and in the brain. In: Tregear, G.W., Ivell, R., Bathgate, R.A., Wade, J.D. (eds) Relaxin 2000. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2877-5_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2877-5_28
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