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Effect of relaxin on the decidual cell reaction in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Reproductive Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Purpose

Differentiation of endometrial stromal cells into decidual cells occurs during embryo implantation and pregnancy. Recently, it has been reported that relaxin affects the decidualization of cultured human endometrial cells in vitro; however, there has been no study on the decidualization of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). The authors demonstrated artificially induced decidualization, and the effect of relaxin on decidualization in gerbils.

Methods

Ten-to-twelve-week-old female Mongolian gerbils were ovariectomized, treated with estradiol, progesterone, and relaxin, and the uterine horn was stimulated. On day 10, uterine horns were measured for weight, protein concentration, and the incorporation of 14C-methionine; tissue sections were examined. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) primers were used for RT-PCR to confirm decidualization.

Results

Decidualization can be induced artificially in gerbils. In general, the histological observations of gerbil decidual cells were very similar to those of rats. The uterine horn weight, protein content, and protein synthesis from 14C-methionine significantly increased in the relaxin-treated gerbils (P < 0.05). Mast cells in the relaxin-treated uterus had proliferated more than those of the non-relaxin-treated group, which was confirmed by IL-11 expression.

Conclusions

We conclude that decidualization can be induced artificially, and relaxin increased weight of uterine horn, protein concentration, protein synthesis and IL-11 expression in gerbils.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. T. Kohsaka, Shizuoka University, Japan for providing the relaxin used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa-mura, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan

    Mayumi Yoshida, M. S. Hossain, K. M. A. Tareq, Ryuichiro Obata & Hirotada Tsujii

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  1. Mayumi Yoshida
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  2. M. S. Hossain
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  3. K. M. A. Tareq
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  4. Ryuichiro Obata
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  5. Hirotada Tsujii
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Correspondence to Hirotada Tsujii.

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Yoshida, M., Hossain, M.S., Tareq, K.M.A. et al. Effect of relaxin on the decidual cell reaction in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Reprod Med Biol 8, 163–167 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-009-0025-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-009-0025-x

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