Relaxin-3 and receptors in the human and rhesus brain and reproductive tissues. Regul Pept 2010 Jan 08;159(1-3):44-53
Date
09/26/2009Pubmed ID
19778557DOI
10.1016/j.regpep.2009.09.007Scopus ID
2-s2.0-71349084185 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 24 CitationsAbstract
Evidence suggests that relaxin-3 may have biological functions in the reproductive and central nervous systems. To date, however, relaxin-3 biodistribution has only been investigated in the mouse, rat, pig and teleost fish. Characterizing relaxin-3 gene structure, expression patterns, and function in non-human primates and humans is critical to delineating its biological significance. Experiments were performed to clone the rhesus macaque orthologues of the relaxin-3 peptide hormone and its cognitive receptors (RXFP1 and RXFP4). An investigation of rhesus relaxin-3 bioactivity and RXFP1 binding properties was also performed. Next we sought to investigate relaxin-3 immunoreactivity in human and rhesus macaque tissues. Immunohistofluorescence staining for relaxin-3 in the brain, testis, and prostate indicated predominant immunostaining in the ventral and dorsal tegmental nuclei, interstitial space surrounding the seminiferous tubules, and prostatic stromal cells, respectively. Further, in studies designed towards exploring biological functions, we observed neuroprotective actions of rhesus relaxin-3 on human neuronal cell cultures. Taken together, this study broadens the significance of relaxin-3 as a peptide involved in both neuronal cell function and reproductive tissues in primates.
Author List
Silvertown JD, Neschadim A, Liu HN, Shannon P, Walia JS, Kao JC, Robertson J, Summerlee AJ, Medin JAAuthor
Jeffrey A. Medin PhD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsCell Line
Humans
Macaca mulatta
Male
Mice
Organ Specificity
Prostate
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
Receptors, Peptide
Relaxin
Seminiferous Tubules
Tegmentum Mesencephali
