Seminal immunoreactive relaxin in domestic animals and its relationship to sperm motility as a possible index for predicting the fertilizing ability of sires

Kohsaka, Tetsuya; Hamano, Koh‐ichi; Sasada, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Seiji; Ogine, T.; Suzuki, Eisaku; Nishida, S.; Takahara, Hidenari; Sato, Eimei

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2605.2003.00409.x

Cited by 39 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This corroborates earlier reports, which found relaxin in sheep by using assays directed against porcine relaxin (20,28). These findings are in agreement with the current knowledge from sequencing and phylogenetic analysis; relaxin-2 and -3 are expressed in all mammals, whereas only primates possess relaxin-1 (46).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Increase of cortical cerebral blood flow and further cerebral microcirculatory effects of Serelaxin in a sheep model

Bischoff

Schmidt

Irintchev

et al. 2016

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

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Serelaxin, recombinant human relaxin-2, modulates endothelial vasodilatory functionality and is under evaluation for treatment of acute heart failure. Little is known about acute effects on cerebral perfusion. We tested the hypothesis that Serelaxin might also have effects on the cerebral microcirculation in a sheep model, which resembles human brain structure quite well. We used laser Doppler flowmetry and sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging techniques, which are reliable tools to continuously assess dynamic changes in cerebral perfusion. Laser Doppler flowmetry shows that bolus injection of 30 g Serelaxin/kg body wt induces an increase (P ϭ 0.006) to roughly 150% of cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF), whereas subcortical CBF remains unchanged (P ϭ 0.688). The effects on area-dependent CBF were significantly different after the bolus injection (P ϭ 0.042). Effects on cortical CBF were further confirmed by SDF imaging. The bolus injection of Serelaxin increased total vessel density to 127% (P ϭ 0.00046), perfused vessel density to 145% (P ϭ 0.024), and perfused capillary density to 153% (P ϭ 0.024). Western blotting confirmed the expression of relaxin receptors RXFP1 and truncated RXFP2-variants in the respective brain regions, suggesting a possible contribution of RXFP1 on the effects of Serelaxin. In conclusion, the injection of a high dose of Serelaxin exerts quick effects on the cerebral microcirculation. Therefore, Serelaxin might be suitable to improve cortical microcirculation and exert neuroprotective effects in clinically relevant scenarios that involve cortical hypoperfusion. These findings need to be confirmed in relevant experimental settings involving cerebral cortical hypoperfusion and can possibly be translated into clinical practice. RELAXIN-2 IS A HUMAN HORMONE that mediates cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy and particularly systemic and renal vasodilatation (7). Moreover, these effects are observed in nonpregnant animals and in ex vivo studies following the artificial administration of the substance as well (33). An intravenous bolus injection of a recombinant form of human relaxin-2, Serelaxin (Novartis Pharma, Basel, Switzerland), modulates a sustained endothelial vasodilatory function. Serelaxin mediates systemic hemodynamic changes and increases renal blood flow through a fall in systemic intravascular resistance with a concomitant increase in arterial compliance (15,22,31,38,39). In the RELAX-AHF study, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was reduced 37% in patients treated with Serelaxin (42). Furthermore, initial positive studies on the cerebral effects of this peptide hormone in a stroke model (47) and in a high blood pressure situation (6) have already been published. Serelaxin induces a nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatation (40) and can particularly reduce the infarction size of the cerebral cortex, suggesting a neuroprotective effect (47).Nonetheless, studies on the influence of Serelaxin on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) have not been performed to this day. Moreover, desp...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Increase of cortical cerebral blood flow and further cerebral microcirculatory effects of Serelaxin in a sheep model

Bischoff

Schmidt

Irintchev

et al. 2016

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

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“…This hormone has been found in human seminal plasma (Essig et al, 1982;Lessing et al, 1986) and it has been found that it exerts physiological effects on spermatozoon motility in certain species of domestic animals, such as bulls (Kohsaka et al, 2003). Miah et al (2006) showed that boar spermatozoa incubation with relaxin signifi cantly stimulates motility, the percentage of AR and glucose use.…”

Section: Relaxinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of spermatozoon acrosome reaction

Vigil¹,

Orellana²,

Cortés³

2011

Biol. Res.

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Spermatozoon acrosome reaction is an exocytotic event of the utmost importance for the development of mammalian fertilisation. Current evidence shows that the triggering of the acrosome reaction (AR) could be regulated by the action of diverse compounds, namely, metabolites, neurotransmitters and hormones. The aim of the present review is to describe the modulating effects of several compounds that have been classifi ed as inductors or inhibitors of acrosome reaction. Among AR inductors, it is necessary to mention progesterone, angiotensin II, atrial natriuretic peptide, cathecolamines, insulin, leptin, relaxin and other hormones. Regarding the inhibitors, oestradiol and epidermal growth factor are among the substances that retard AR. It is worth mentioning that gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter known to be an inhibitor in the central nervous system, has been shown to induce AR. The multiple hormones located in the fl uids of the female reproductive tract are also likely to act as subtle regulators of AR, constituting a fundamental aspect for the development of successful fertilisation. Finally, it is necessary to emphasise that the study of regulation exerted by hormones and other compounds on AR is essential for further understanding of mammalian reproductive biology, especially spermatozoon physiology.

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“…Initially, it was thought that the relaxin produced in the male reproductive tract would be released exclusively in the seminal fluid to influence sperm motility (Sasaki et al 2001, Kohsaka et al 2003, Sherwood 2004. However, studies with relaxin gene knockout animals (M1RKO) show that relaxin also plays a role in growth and development of the male reproductive system (Samuel et al 2003a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Locally produced relaxin may affect testis and vas deferens function in rats

Cardoso¹,

Nascimento²,

Royer³

et al. 2010

Reproduction

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We have previously shown that the rat testis and vas deferens contain high levels of the relaxin receptor, RXFP1. The present study was undertaken to determine the expression of relaxin in these tissues, and the effect of exogenous relaxin on Sertoli cell proliferation and on the mRNA levels of some proteins that may contribute to epithelial secretion and tissue reorganization in the vas deferens. Relaxin mRNA levels in testis and vas deferens were much lower than in the prostate. Sertoli cells seem to be an important source of relaxin mRNA in testis. Relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in the seminiferous epithelium but not in the interstitial compartment. The relaxin precursor was expressed in the vas deferens, and relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in apical cells of the vas deferens. Castration, but not treatment with the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780, dramatically reduced relaxin mRNA levels in the prostate and vas deferens, and this effect was prevented by testosterone. Rxfp1 mRNA levels in the vas deferens and prostate were not affected by castration or treatment with ICI 182,780. Exogenous relaxin increased the incorporation of 3 H-thymidine in cultured Sertoli cells, and treatment of the vas deferens with 100 ng/ml relaxin increased the mRNA levels for the cystic fibrosis chloride channel (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) about three times, and doubled mRNA levels for the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase and metalloproteinase 7. These results suggest that locally produced relaxin acts as an autocrine or paracrine agent in the testis and vas deferens to affect spermatogenesis and seminal fluid composition.

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Seminal immunoreactive relaxin in domestic animals and its relationship to sperm motility as a possible index for predicting the fertilizing ability of sires

Cited by 39 publications

References 25 publications

Increase of cortical cerebral blood flow and further cerebral microcirculatory effects of Serelaxin in a sheep model

Increase of cortical cerebral blood flow and further cerebral microcirculatory effects of Serelaxin in a sheep model

Modulation of spermatozoon acrosome reaction

Locally produced relaxin may affect testis and vas deferens function in rats

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