Male seminal relaxin contributes to induction of the post-mating cytokine response in the female mouse uterus
Files
(Published version)
Date
2017
Authors
Glynn, D.
Heng, K.
Russell, D.
Sharkey, D.
Robertson, S.
Anand-Ivell, R.
Ivell, R.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Frontiers in Physiology, 2017; 8(JUN):422-1-422-12
Statement of Responsibility
Danielle J. Glynn, Kee Heng, Darryl L. Russell, David J. Sharkey, Sarah A. Robertson, Ravinder Anand-Ivell, and Richard Ivell
Conference Name
Abstract
The hormone relaxin is important in female reproduction for embryo implantation, cardiovascular function, and during labor and lactation. Relaxin is also synthesized in males by organs of themale tract.We hypothesized that relaxinmight be one component of seminal plasma responsible for eliciting the female cytokine response induced in the uterus at mating. When recombinant relaxin was injected into the uterus of wild-type (Rln+/+) mice at estrus, it evoked the production of Cxcl1 mRNA and its secreted protein product CXCL1 in four of eight animals. Mating experiments were then conducted using mice with a null mutation in the relaxin gene (Rln−/− mice). qRT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression in wild-type females showed diminished uterine expression of several cytokine and chemokine genes in the absence of male relaxin. Similar differences were also noted comparing Rln−/− and Rln+/+ females mated to wild-type males. Quantification of uterine luminal fluid cytokine content confirmed thatmale relaxin provokes the production of CXCL10 and CSF3 in Rln+/+ females. Differences were also seen comparing Rln−/− and Rln+/+ females mated with Rln−/− males for CXCL1, CSF3, and CCL5, implying that endogenous relaxin in females might prime the uterus to respond appropriately to seminal fluid at coitus. Finally, pan-leukocyte CD45 mRNA was increased in wild-type matings compared to other combinations, implying that male and female relaxin may trigger leukocyte expansion in the uterus. We conclude that male and/or female relaxin may be important in activating the uterine cytokine/chemokine network required to initiate maternal immune adaptation to pregnancy.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Published: 19 June 2017
Access Status
Rights
Copyright © 2017 Glynn, Heng, Russell, Sharkey, Robertson, Anand-Ivell and Ivell. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.