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von Versen-Höynck F, Strauch NK, Liu J, Chi YY, Keller-Woods M, Conrad KP, Baker VL. Effect of Mode of Conception on Maternal Serum Relaxin, Creatinine, and Sodium Concentrations in an Infertile Population. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:412-419. [PMID: 29862889 DOI: 10.1177/1933719118776792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate how the mode of conception affects maternal relaxin, creatinine, and electrolyte concentrations. BACKGROUND Pregnancies achieved by fertility treatment often begin in a nonphysiologic endocrine milieu with no corpus luteum (CL) or with many corpora lutea. The CL produces not only estradiol and progesterone but is also the sole source of relaxin in early pregnancy, a hormone that may contribute to maternal systemic and renal vasodilation. There is limited data about maternal physiology in early pregnancy during fertility treatment, and studies have rarely considered the potential effect of the absence of the CL. To begin to address this gap in knowledge, we sought to investigate how the mode of conception affects maternal relaxin, creatinine, and electrolyte concentrations. METHODS One hundred eighty-four women who received care at an academic infertility practice provided serum samples. Levels of relaxin 2, creatinine, and electrolytes were compared between 4 groups defined on the basis of mode of conception which corresponded to categories of CL number: (1) absence of the CL, (2) single CL, (3) multiple CL from ovarian stimulation not including in vitro fertilization (IVF), and (4) multiple CL from IVF with fresh embryo transfer. RESULTS Relaxin-2 levels were undetectable in patients lacking a CL. Creatinine, sodium, and total CO2 levels were significantly higher in the 0 CL group (relaxin absent) compared to all other groups (relaxin present). Compared to clomiphene, use of letrozole was associated with a lower relaxin level. CONCLUSION Early creatinine and sodium concentrations are increased in the absence of relaxin. Given the increasing utilization of frozen embryo transfer, further studies comparing programmed with natural cycles are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke von Versen-Höynck
- 1 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University Medical Center, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.,2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nairi K Strauch
- 1 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University Medical Center, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yueh-Yun Chi
- 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Maureen Keller-Woods
- 4 Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kirk P Conrad
- 5 Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Valerie L Baker
- 1 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University Medical Center, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
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Nowak M, Gram A, Boos A, Aslan S, Ay SS, Önyay F, Kowalewski MP. Functional implications of the utero-placental relaxin (RLN) system in the dog throughout pregnancy and at term. Reproduction 2017; 154:415-431. [PMID: 28667126 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin (RLN) is a key hormone of pregnancy in mammals best known for its involvement in connective tissue remodeling. In the domestic dog, placental RLN is the only known endocrine marker of pregnancy. However, knowledge is sparse regarding the spatio-temporal expression of RLN and its receptors (RXFP1 and RXFP2) in the canine uterus and placenta. Here, their expression was investigated in the pre-implantation uterus and utero-placental compartments (UtPl) at selected time points during gestation: post-implantation, mid-gestation, and at normal and antigestagen-induced luteolysis/abortion. Immunohistochemistry with newly generated, canine-specific antisera, in situ hybridization and semi-quantitative PCR were applied. In compartmentalization studies, placental and endometrial RLN increased continuously toward prepartum. The placental RXFP1 was time-related and highest during post-implantation and decreased together with RXFP2 at prepartum luteolysis. The endometrial levels of both receptors did not vary greatly, but myometrial RXFP2 decreased from mid-gestation to prepartum luteolysis. Antigestagen treatment resulted in suppression of RLN in UtPl and decreased RXFP1 and RXFP2 in the uterus. The placental RLN was localized mainly in the cytotrophoblast. Additionally, RXFP1 stained strongly in placental endothelial cells while RXFP2 was found mainly in maternal decidual cells. Uterine staining for all targets was found in epithelial cellular constituents and in myometrium. Finally, besides its endocrine functions, RLN seems to be involved in auto-/paracrine regulation of utero-placental functions in dogs in a time-dependent manner. New insights into feto-maternal communication was provided, in particular regarding the localization of RXFP2 in the maternal decidual cells, implying functional roles of RLN during the decidualization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Nowak
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aykut Gram
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alois Boos
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Selim Aslan
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyVeterinary Faculty, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Serhan S Ay
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Firdevs Önyay
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Mariusz P Kowalewski
- Institute of Veterinary AnatomyVetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Lodhi RSZ, Nakabayashi K, Suzuki K, Yamada AY, Hazama R, Ebina Y, Yamada H. Relaxin has anti-apoptotic effects on human trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SV neo cells. Gynecol Endocrinol 2013; 29:1051-4. [PMID: 24070111 DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2013.829444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of human relaxin on apoptosis in the human trophoblast derived HTR-8/SV neo cell line, which is a possible model of human extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). HTR-8/SV neo cells, cultured in phenol red free RPMI1640 medium, were treated with different doses of human recombinant (rH2) relaxin in serum-deprived conditions. RT-PCR was used for evaluating relaxin receptor: RXFP1 and RXFP2 expression in HTR-8/SV neo cells. The cell death was examined by TUNEL assay. Furthermore, we investigated caspase-3, cleaved PARP and Bcl-2 expressions by Western blot analysis to recognize the translational effects of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. RXFP1 and RXFP2 mRNA expression was observed in HTR-8/SV neo cells. Compared with untreated control cultures, treatment with rH2 relaxin, decreased TUNEL-positive rate in HTR-8/SV neo cells was observed. Western blot analysis revealed that treatment with rH2 relaxin decreased the expression of caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, but in contrast increased Bcl-2 expression in those cells. These results suggest that rH2 relaxin has anti-apoptotic effects on HTR8/SV neo cells by decreasing pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and cleaved PARP expression and up-regulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romana S Z Lodhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe , Japan
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Tamada H, Kawate N, Kawata N, Inaba T, Kida K, Hatoya S, Akune A, Nakama K, Kohsaka T, Sawada T. Detection of relaxin mRNA in the corpus luteum, uterus, and uterine cervix in the bitch. J Vet Med Sci 2010; 72:1383-6. [PMID: 20495299 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.09-0485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the pregnant bitch, the placenta is a major source of circulating relaxin, but its local expression in the reproductive organs is not clear. This study demonstrated expression of relaxin mRNA in the corpus luteum, uterus, uterine cervix as well as placenta in the pregnant and nonpregnant bitch by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromichi Tamada
- Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan.
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Abstract
Relaxin has vital physiological roles in pregnant rats, mice, and pigs. Relaxin promotes growth and softening of the cervix, thus facilitating rapid delivery of live young. Relaxin also promotes development of the mammary apparatus, thus enabling normal lactational performance. The actions of relaxin on the mammary apparatus vary among species. Whereas relaxin is required for development of the mammary nipples in rats and mice, it is essential for prepartum development of glandular parenchyma in pregnant pigs. During pregnancy relaxin also inhibits uterine contractility and promotes the osmoregulatory changes of pregnancy in rats. Recent studies with male and nonpregnant female rodents revealed diverse therapeutic actions of relaxin on nonreproductive tissues that have clinical implications. Relaxin has been reported to reduce fibrosis in the kidney, heart, lung, and liver and to promote wound healing. Also, probably through its vasodilatory actions, relaxin protects the heart from ischemia-induced injury. Finally, relaxin counteracts allergic reactions. Knowledge of the diverse physiological and therapeutic actions of relaxin, coupled with the recent identification of relaxin receptors, opens numerous avenues of investigation that will likely sustain a high level of research interest in relaxin for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- O David Sherwood
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 524 Burrill Hall, 407 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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SHIMIZU K, JIN W, KISHI H, NOGUCHI J, WATANABE G, TAYA K. Effects of Prostaglandin E2 on Ripening of the Cervix and Secretion of Relaxin, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Estradiol-17.BETA. and Progesterone at Term Pregnancy in the Japanese Monkey (Macaca fuscata fuscata). J Reprod Dev 2002. [DOI: 10.1262/jrd.48.607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Keiko SHIMIZU
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
| | - WanZhu JIN
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Hisashi KISHI
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute of Agrobiological Resource
| | - Junko NOGUCHI
- Division of Agrobiological Resource II, National Institute of Agrobiological Resource
| | - Gen WATANABE
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Kazuyoshi TAYA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
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Hombach-Klonisch S, Abd-Elnaeim M, Skidmore JA, Leiser R, Fischer B, Klonisch T. Ruminant relaxin in the pregnant one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Biol Reprod 2000; 62:839-46. [PMID: 10727251 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod62.4.839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
We have determined the cDNA sequence of preprorelaxin in the pregnant one-humped camel by employing reverse transcription- and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction. Camel preprorelaxin consisted of 600 base pairs (bp) encoding a protein of 199 amino acids (aa) with a signal peptide of 25 aa (75 bp), a B domain of 28 aa (84 bp), a C domain of 121 aa (366 bp), and an A domain of 24 aa (72 bp). The N terminus of the C domain of camel prorelaxin contained the unique proline-rich repetitive sequence (-RPAP)(3)-(-K/RPAL-)(2), and within the B domain the classical -GRELVR- receptor binding motif was found. Camel preprorelaxin showed highest homology with porcine (74.6%) and equine (65.4%) relaxin. The ovary and the uteroplacental unit were a dual source of relaxin in the pregnant dromedary. Within the ovary, weak expression of relaxin was detected in large luteal cells of the mature corpus luteum. In the ovarian follicles, immunoreactive relaxin, but not relaxin mRNA, was detected in the granulosa and theca interna cell layer. Beginning at around Day 93 of gestation and coinciding with increasing interdigitation of the fetal villus with the underlying maternal endometrium, uterine luminal epithelial cells in the uteroplacental tissue expressed relaxin. Weak expression of immunoreactive relaxin, but not relaxin mRNA, was observed in villous trophoblast cells. Pseudostratified trophoblast cells at the base of the placental villi and multinucleate giant cells did not express relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hombach-Klonisch
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University, Faculty of Medicine, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Hombach-Klonisch S, Kauffold J, Rautenberg T, Steger K, Tetens F, Fischer B, Klonisch T. Relaxin-like factor (RLF) mRNA expression in the fallow deer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2000; 159:147-58. [PMID: 10687860 DOI: 10.1016/s0303-7207(99)00190-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Employing RT- and RACE-PCR on RNA isolated from testicular tissue, we have cloned the coding cDNA sequence for the RLF, also known as Insl3, of the fallow deer. The RLF coding sequence consisted of 396 bp encoding a peptide of 131 amino acids and shared highest homology with bovine, sheep and goat RLF. Northern analysis revealed a single 0.9 kb transcript in the deer testis. There is only one RLF gene in the deer genome. Nonradioactive in situ hybridization revealed the Leydig cells to be the sole source for RLF mRNA in the deer testis. In the non-pregnant uterus, RLF transcripts were located in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the endometrium. Within the ovary of the pregnant doe, follicular theca interna cells and the corpus luteum expressed RLF transcripts. In uteroplacental tissues, luminal and glandular epithelium, fetal uninucleate and binucleate trophoblast cells (BNC) of the basic villous trophoblast layer expressed RLF mRNA. BNC located at the apical trophoblast layer or the tip of the fetal villus were devoid of RLF transcripts. Pseudostratified trophoblast cells at the base of fetal villi coexpressed RLF mRNA and immunoreactive MHC class Ib molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hombach-Klonisch
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Medicine, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Bryant-Greenwood GD, Rutanen EM, Partanen S, Coelho TK, Yamamoto SY. Sequential appearance of relaxin, prolactin and IGFBP-1 during growth and differentiation of the human endometrium. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1993; 95:23-9. [PMID: 7694877 DOI: 10.1016/0303-7207(93)90025-f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin (RLX) is a product of the human corpus luteum, pregnancy decidua and placenta, prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) are products of the cyclic endometrium and of the pregnancy decidua. All three proteins are thought to function interdependently in endometrium/decidua as local factors within the uterus without reaching the systemic circulation. In this study, the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method for immunolocalization with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies has been applied to serial sections of endometria obtained from patients at different stages of the menstrual cycle and in early and late gestation. This allowed the cellular localization of the three proteins to be followed simultaneously through the reproductive stages from cyclic endometrium to term gestational decidua. The production, as opposed to sequestration of RLX from an ovarian source was demonstrated by the application in parallel of an antibody to the processed hormone and its connecting peptide. RLX was shown localized to the glandular and luminal epithelia in the proliferative and secretory phases. The decidualized stromal cells also immunostained for RLX in the late secretory phase and in early and late pregnancy. PRL was localized first to the glandular epithelium and then stroma, appearing after RLX, IGFBP-1 appeared later in the secretory phase and predominantly in the decidualized stromal cells confirming previous studies. In contrast, all three proteins were immunostained in early pregnancy and increased to term gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- G D Bryant-Greenwood
- Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822
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