The binding of recombinant human relaxin to human spermatozoa

Carrell, Douglas T.; Peterson, C M; Urry, Ronald L.

doi:10.1080/07435809509030484

Cited by 35 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Unlike its effects on body growth, the finding that relaxin regulates the male reproductive tract confirms the findings of earlier investigations that demonstrated male reproductive tissues as being targets for relaxin activity (Brenner et al, 1984;Carrell et al, 1995;Essig et al, 1982;Ivell et al, 1989;Min and Sherwood, 1998;Weiss, 1989;Winslow et al, 1992;Yki-Jarvinen et al, 1983). Relaxin was previously identified in the seminal plasma of humans (Weiss, 1989;Winslow et al, 1992) in the peripheral circulation of boars (Juang et al, 1996) and was shown to enhance the penetration of human sperm into human or bovine cervical mucus (Brenner et al, 1984).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Furthermore, reports of additional actions of relaxin in tissues (Tan et al, 1999) and cells (Parsell et al, 1996;Unemori and Amento, 1990;Wyatt et al, 2002) outside the female reproductive tract and the localization of relaxin binding sites in the heart and brain (Osheroff et al, 1992;Osheroff and Ho, 1993;Osheroff and Phillips, 1991) have expanded the role of relaxin from a hormone of pregnancy to a growth factor/cytokine. Immunoreactive relaxin and relaxin-binding sites have also been detected within the male reproductive tract: in the prostate (Ivell et al, 1989;Yki-Jarvinen et al, 1983), the seminal fluid (Essig et al, 1982;Weiss et al, 1986;Winslow et al, 1992), testis (Min and Sherwood, 1998), and spermatozoa (Carrell et al, 1995). In contrast to mammals where relaxin is produced in the prostate (Ivell et al, 1989;Yki-Jarvinen et al, 1983), the testis appears to be the major source of relaxin in some species (Steinetz et al, 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Relaxin Is a Key Mediator of Prostate Growth and Male Reproductive Tract Development

Samuel

Tian

Zhao

et al. 2003

Laboratory Investigation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY:Male mice deficient in relaxin showed retarded growth and marked deficiencies in the reproductive tract within 1 month of age. At 3 months of age, male reproductive organ weight (including the testis, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicle) from relaxin null (RLXϪ/Ϫ) mice were significantly (p Ͻ 0.05) smaller than those of wild-type (RLXϩ/ϩ) male mice. Histologic examination of RLXϪ/Ϫ mouse tissues demonstrated decreased sperm maturation (testis), increased collagen, and decreased epithelial proliferation in the prostate compared with tissues obtained from RLXϩ/ϩ animals. The degree of sperm maturation in the testes of sexually mature RLXϪ/Ϫ mice (3 months) resembled that of immature (1 month) RLXϩ/ϩ mice and correlated with a decrease in fertility in RLXϪ/Ϫ mice. The marked differences in the extracellular matrix of the testis and prostate in RLXϪ/Ϫ males also correlated with an increase in the rate of cell apoptosis. Relaxin and LGR7 (relaxin receptor) mRNA expression was demonstrated in the prostate gland and testis of the normal mouse. Data from this study demonstrate that relaxin is an important factor in the development and function of the male reproductive tract in mice and has an essential role in the growth of the prostate and maintenance of male fertility. Relaxin may mediate its effects on growth and development by serving as an antiapoptotic factor. (Lab Invest 2003, 83:1055-1067.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relaxin Is a Key Mediator of Prostate Growth and Male Reproductive Tract Development

Samuel

Tian

Zhao

et al. 2003

Laboratory Investigation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Relaxin from human seminal plasma is identical to luteal relaxin (Winslow et al, 1992) and appears to be produced in the prostate (Yki-Järvinen et al, 1983;Sokol et al, 1989). RXFP1 is expressed in sperm in both mice (Krajnc-Franken et al, 2004) and humans (Carrell et al, 1995;Ferlin et al, 2012) and increases sperm motility and facilitates penetration into oocytes (Weiss, 1989). Another potential role for seminal relaxin may be to act on the female reproductive tract to prepare the endometrium for implantation (Telgmann and Gellersen, 1998;Unemori et al, 1999;Anand-Ivell and Ivell, 2014).…”

Section: Physiologic Roles Of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biological Roles of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors 1–4, the Receptors for Relaxin Family Peptides

Halls¹,

Bathgate²,

Sutton³

et al. 2015

Pharmacol Rev

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Relaxin is likely to play an important role in male reproductive functions as well. The protein is synthesized in the prostate, and has been shown, in vitro, to increase the motility and egg penetrating ability of sperm (9). Relaxin probably possesses non-reproductive functions as well.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relaxin Binds to and Elicits a Response from Cells of the Human Monocytic Cell Line, THP-1

Parsell¹,

Mak²,

Amento³

et al. 1996

Journal of Biological Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Relaxin is a 6-kDa peptide of the insulin family that is present at increased levels in the circulation during pregnancy. Its functions at that time are thought to include maintenance of myometrial quiescence, regulation of plasma volume, and release of neuropeptides, such as oxytocin and vasopressin. The protein also promotes connective tissue remodeling, which allows cervical ripening and separation of the pelvic symphysis in various mammalian species. In this report, we provide evidence for a novel target of relaxin, the human monocytic cell line, THP-1. Relaxin bound with high affinity (K d ‫؍‬ 102 pM) to a specific receptor on THP-1 cells. Receptor density was low (ϳ275 receptors/cell), but binding of relaxin triggered intracelluar signaling events. Receptor density was not modulated by pretreatment with estrogen, progesterone, or a number of other agents known to induce differentiation of THP-1 cells. Cross-linking studies showed radiolabeled relaxin bound primarily to cell surface proteins with an apparent molecular mass of >200 kDa. Other members of the insulin-like family of proteins (insulin, insulin-like growth factors I and II, and relaxin-like factor) were unable to displace the binding of relaxin to THP-1 cells, suggesting that a distinct receptor for relaxin exists on this monocyte/macrophage cell line.Relaxin is a 6-kDa polypeptide with basic tertiary structural fold nearly identical to that of insulin (1). However, analysis of chemically synthesized relaxin derivatives has shown that the receptor-binding residues of the two proteins are discrete (2) and, although information is very limited (3, 4), the intracellular signaling events triggered when relaxin binds its receptor appear to be different from those triggered by insulin receptor binding. Consequently, it is not surprising that the physiological functions of relaxin are quite distinct from those of insulin and the other members of the insulin superfamily. Discovered in the 1920s, relaxin has been classically thought of as a "hormone of pregnancy" since it is present in the circulation at increased levels during pregnancy, when its synthesis is primarily directed by the corpus luteum. It serves to promote connective tissue remodeling, which allows cervical ripening and separation of the pelvic symphysis, and also acts to maintain quiescence of the myometrium (5). In addition, relaxin binding sites identified in specific areas of the brain (6) and heart (7) point to a role for it in cardiovascular function, perhaps in setting the critical thresholds for plasma volume in pregnancy (8). Relaxin is likely to play an important role in male reproductive functions as well. The protein is synthesized in the prostate, and has been shown, in vitro, to increase the motility and egg penetrating ability of sperm (9). Relaxin probably possesses non-reproductive functions as well. The identification of sites of relaxin mRNA synthesis, as well as relaxin binding sites, in the brain and heart of both males and females suggests that in those organs, the pro...

show abstract

The binding of recombinant human relaxin to human spermatozoa

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Relaxin Is a Key Mediator of Prostate Growth and Male Reproductive Tract Development

Relaxin Is a Key Mediator of Prostate Growth and Male Reproductive Tract Development

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biological Roles of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors 1–4, the Receptors for Relaxin Family Peptides

Relaxin Binds to and Elicits a Response from Cells of the Human Monocytic Cell Line, THP-1

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About