HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hombach-Klonisch, S. Articles by Klonisch, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hombach-Klonisch, S. Articles by Klonisch, T. Agricola Articles by Hombach-Klonisch, S. Articles by Klonisch, T.

Ruminant Relaxin in the Pregnant One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)¹

^a Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University, Faculty of Medicine, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany ^b Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt ^c The Camel Reproduction Centre, Nakhlee, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ^d Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, D-35392 Giessen, Germany

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.

First decision: 15 October 1999.

¹ S.H.-K. was supported by the Land Anhalt-Saxony in the program "Wiedereinstiegsstipendium für Frauen."

² Correspondence: S. Hombach-Klonisch, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University, Faculty of Medicine, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany. FAX: 0049 345 557 1700; sabine.hombach-klonisch{at}medizin.uni-halle.de

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. D. Sherwood Relaxin's Physiological Roles and Other Diverse Actions Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2004; 25(2): 205 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Klonisch, J. Kauffold, K. Steger, M. Bergmann, R. Leiser, B. Fischer, and S. Hombach-Klonisch Canine Relaxin-Like Factor: Unique Molecular Structure and Differential Expression Within Reproductive Tissues of the Dog Biol Reprod, February 1, 2001; 64(2): 442 - 450. [Abstract] [Full Text]