The role of the hormone relaxin in human reproduction

MacLennan, Alastair Harvey (1985) The role of the hormone relaxin in human reproduction. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The polypeptide hormone relaxin has only recently been confirmed to be present in the human and specific roles for it in the human have not been delineated. The main aim of this thesis is to examine possible roles for this hormone in the human specifically in the areas of implantation of the fertilised ovum, the maintenance of myometrial quiescence during pregnancy and the facilitation of cervical ripening at parturition. As human relaxin was not available at the beginning or during any of these studies, pure porcine relaxin and a porcine relaxin radioimmunoassay were used to investigate the likely role of relaxin in the human. These studies have involved newly developed methods to purify extensive amounts of pure porcine relaxin for laboratory and clinical trials and the development of a homologous porcine relaxin radioimmunoassay for its heterologous application in measuring relaxin-like immunoactivity in the human. Where ethically and practically possible the studies were designed to investigate the role of the hormone relaxin in the human using human samples or by conducting clinical trials. However, where this was not possible, ainimal or in vitro studies have been performed to further define relaxin's possible role in reproduction.

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Medicine, Endocrinology, Obstetrics
• Date of Award: 1985
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1985-76537
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 14:12
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 14:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/76537