Abstract
Summary
Administration of relaxin in the peri-implantation period terminated pregnancy in rats. The effect was blocked by progesterone and dexamethasone but not by indomethacin. When relaxin and PGF2α were given concomitantly in doses which singly did not interfere with pregnancy, resorption of fetuses was observed. It is suggested that relaxin may antagonize the progesterone “block” to coordinated uterine contractions.
We thank our former colleagues, Drs. O. D. Sherwood, University of Illinois, and Thomas Giannina, New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry, for their help and advice during the early phases of this work.
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