Biomaterial Database

[Relaxin and cervical dilatation during parturition (author's transl)]. 1977

K von Maillot, and M Weiss, and M Nagelschmidt, and H Struck

Relaxin concentrations during pregnancy and parturition were measured in tissue specimens of the uterine cervix of 27 women in childbearing age. During pregnancy relaxin levels increase from 0.4 guinea pig unit (GPU) to 0.94 GPU/mg soluble tissue protein. Already during parturition (0.41 GPU) and immediately post partum (0.39 GPU) the hormone concentrations have dropped back to normal. It appears that the biochemical changes which occur in the connective tissue of the uterine cervix during pregnancy and parturition are influenced by relaxin. Experimental animals were taken to show if relaxin acts by activation of collagenolytic enzymes. In the mouse a rise in the activity of collagen-peptidase and of the inhibitor of collagen-peptidase in plasma was found after subcutaneous injections of relaxin. The addition of human cervical tissue extracts resulted in an increase of enzyme-activation (even higher than could be expected of the hormone concentrations of the individual extracts). The highest levels of the enzyme were found after injections of extracts from cervical tissue specimens of parturient women.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D012065	Relaxin	A water-soluble polypeptide (molecular weight approximately 8,000) extractable from the corpus luteum of pregnancy. It produces relaxation of the pubic symphysis and dilation of the uterine cervix in certain animal species. Its role in the human pregnant female is uncertain. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Relaxin B
D002584	Cervix Uteri	The neck portion of the UTERUS between the lower isthmus and the VAGINA forming the cervical canal.	Cervical Canal of the Uterus,Cervical Canal, Uterine,Ectocervix,Endocervical Canal,Endocervix,External Os Cervix,External Os of the Cervix,Uterine Cervical Canal,Cervix,Cervixes,Uterine Cervix,Canal, Endocervical,Canal, Uterine Cervical,Cervix, External Os,Cervix, Uterine,Endocervical Canals,Uterine Cervical Canals
D004789	Enzyme Activation	Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1, activation by ions (activators); 2, activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3, conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme.	Activation, Enzyme,Activations, Enzyme,Enzyme Activations
D005260	Female		Females
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014020	Tissue Extracts	Preparations made from animal tissues or organs (ANIMAL STRUCTURES). They usually contain many components, any one of which may be pharmacologically or physiologically active. Tissue extracts may contain specific, but uncharacterized factors or proteins with specific actions.	Extracts, Tissue