HOME >> MEDICINE >> NEWS
Ovarian Hormone Could Play Key Role In Easier, Safer Childbirth

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The ovarian hormone relaxin, already in final clinical testing for the treatment of an often fatal connective-tissue disease, may have another important therapeutic role -- enabling easier and safer childbirth when labor is induced, says a researcher who reports a series of significant findings on relaxin's effects on the cervix in humans and rats.

In the October issue of the journal Biology of Reproduction, a team led by O. David Sherwood of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign documented that relaxin binds to cells in the human cervix. Because it binds to the same kinds of cells in rats and pigs -- where relaxin has promoted dramatic growth and softening of the cervix during pregnancy -- the findings "encourage the view that relaxin has similar effects in the human cervix," Sherwood said.

In a separate article in the journal, relaxin was shown to promote cervical softening in pregnant rats by reducing the organization of collagen fibers in cervical connective tissue, according to work done by Sherwood and Enrique H. Luque of the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina.

In September's issue of Endocrinology, Sherwood reported that relaxin promotes an increase in cervical cells in pregnant rats, providing evidence that relaxin-induced cell division contributes to cervical growth in pregnancy. Earlier this year, Sherwood disproved a widely held theory that relaxin's effects on the rat cervix are mediated by prostaglandlins, a class of signal molecules.

The flurry of published work -- funded by the National Institutes of Health -- comes as Sherwood begins his 30th year of research on relaxin. He began by isolating relaxin from rats and pigs, and finding that its structure is similar to that of insulin. Then, after determining that relaxin is secreted into the blood in the last half of pregnancy in both species, he identified its physiological roles. In addition to its effects
'"/>

Contact: Jim Barlow, Life Sciences Editor
b-james3@uiuc.edu
217-333-5802
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
3-Nov-1998


Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Ovarian cancer does have early warning signs, Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center find
2. Ovarian cancer rates across Europe
3. Ovarian tissue storage and later transplant shows promise for women infertile from cancer therapy
4. Ovarian carcinoma, ethnicity, and survival
5. Hormone therapy increases risk of urinary incontinence
6. Hormone therapy controversy raises drug safety issues
7. Endocrine Society and Hormone Foundation call for increased research
8. Hormone therapy may still offer important health benefits to postmenopausal women
9. Hormone may offer hope for treating some behavioral disorders
10. Hormone found to protect bones
11. Hormone released by bone marrow cells may hasten recovery from brain injury

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Ovarian Hormone Could Play Key Role Easier Safer Childbirth

(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 DiaperBuys.com is pleased to ... Contest. Lindsey Willis of Olathe, Kansas, won the grand ... DiaperBuys. Second prize was a three-month supply of Cuties ... Vegas, Nev.; and third prize, a one-month supply, went ... was run through the company’s Facebook page. Entrants uploaded ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... Scott Ryan Tischler of Tischler Brothers Fitness recently ... of fat in just over a year. Not only ... importance of exercising. Scott also taught Troy the importance ... rules of healthy eating and having a regular exercise ... 1.    Find a distraction when a food craving attacks. Pushups ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Over the past ... gradually transforming, which has affected the Medical Group ... and seeking regular hours, more young physicians are opting ... other medical groups,” says IBISWorld industry analyst Anna Son. ... pressure, a number of older physicians are selling their ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Whether working in an ... and law enforcement need an added layer of protection ... Night VISER , is an effective portable, rugged, ... system to increase border and perimeter security. , Today, ... more than tripled over the past three years, with ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... (PRWEB) May 23, 2013 Vegas ... is pleased to announce all new vacation packages ... in coming to Las Vegas for this patriotic ... it is thanks to VegasHotelEscapes.com's new special pricing ... to state that it guarantees the lowest prices ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:DiaperBuys.com Announces Photo Contest Winners 2Health News:Medical Group Practice Management in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld 2Health News:Medical Group Practice Management in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld 3Health News:Lighting Up the Night: ARA Announces Record Sales of Its Night VISER System 2Health News:Lighting Up the Night: ARA Announces Record Sales of Its Night VISER System 3
(Date:5/24/2013)... China Biologic Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBPO, "China Biologic" or ... in China , today announced that ... issued by Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai ... that on May 21, 2013, Ms. Siu ... shareholders of the Company, and her spouse, Mr. Tung ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... , May 24, 2013  Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ... will participate in the Deutsche Bank Health Care Conference ... Waterfront Hotel.  Mr. Adrian Adams , ... an overview of the Company and its product pipeline ...   (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101202/MM10881LOGO ) ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... YORK , May 24, 2013 In accordance ... Rules and Rule 14e-1 of the United States Exchange Act, ... its original offer for Elan Corporation (NYSE: ELN). ... Limited ("Royalty Pharma") made an offer for the entire of ... Corporation, plc ("Elan") (the "Original Offer").  On ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:China Biologic Comments on the Proposed Shanghai RAAS Transaction 2China Biologic Comments on the Proposed Shanghai RAAS Transaction 3China Biologic Comments on the Proposed Shanghai RAAS Transaction 4Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. To Present At The Deutsche Bank Health Care Conference 2Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. To Present At The Deutsche Bank Health Care Conference 3Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. To Present At The Deutsche Bank Health Care Conference 4Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 2Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 3Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 4Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 5Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 6Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 7Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 8Royalty Pharma Discloses Acceptance Levels of Original Offer for Elan Pursuant to Irish and United States Regulatory Requirements 9
Cached News: