| First Author | Siebel AL | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Endocrinology | Volume | 144 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 4272-5 |
| PubMed ID | 12959965 | Mgi Jnum | J:85776 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2676544 | Doi | 10.1210/en.2003-0548 |
| Citation | Siebel AL, et al. (2003) Inhibition of oxytocin receptor and estrogen receptor-alpha expression, but not relaxin receptors (LGR7), in the myometrium of late pregnant relaxin gene knockout mice. Endocrinology 144(10):4272-5 |
| abstractText | This study used relaxin (RLX) gene knockout mice (Rlx-/-) to investigate the effects of RLX on myometrial oxytocin receptor (OTR) and estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha gene expression in late gestation. We also characterized the temporal expression of the RLX receptor (LGR7) and demonstrated gene transcripts in the myometrium of Rlx+/+ and Rlx-/- mice. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in myometrial LGR7 gene expression on d 17.5 and 18.5 post coitum (pc) compared with earlier stages of gestation, but no differences between Rlx+/+ and Rlx-/- mice. Myometrial OTR mRNA levels increased at the end of gestation in Rlx+/+ but not Rlx-/- mice. ERalpha gene expression was up-regulated on d 14.5 pc in Rlx+/+ mice, with mRNA levels remaining high throughout late gestation. In contrast, ERalpha mRNA levels were significantly lower in Rlx-/- mice on d 14.5 and 18.5 pc. These data show that the increases in myometrial OTR and ERalpha expression in late pregnant Rlx+/+ mice were attenuated in Rlx-/- mice. The effects of RLX on OTRs are probably mediated via activation of ERalpha. Finally, RLX receptor expression in the myometrium of Rlx-/- mice did not differ from wild-type mice, implying that RLX does not influence expression of its receptor. |
