Rabbit Placental Relaxin: Ultrastructural Localization in Secretory Granules of the Syncytiotrophoblast Using Rabbit Placental Relaxin Antiserum*

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Abstract
Although relaxin has been isolated from the placenta of the human, rabbit, horse, and cat, this study represents the first ultrastructural localization of the hormone in placental tissue. Placentas were removed from rabbits on days 15, 23, and 30 of pregnancy, and the tissues were prepared for light and electrom microscopies. The cytoplasm of the syncytiotrophoblast from all stages of pregnancy studied showed positive staining for the hormone of the light level using guinea pig antirabbit relaxin serum and the avidin-biotin technique. Ultrastructurally, the syncytiotrophoblast was found to contain membrane bounded granules (150-400 nm in diameter) which formed at the Golgi and were seen in close association with the cell membrane. Exocytosis involving the incorporation of the granule membrane into the cell membrane was observed. These granules labeled positively for relaxin after treatment with guinea pig antirabbit relaxin serum and goat antiguinea pig immunoglobulin G-colloidal gold. Control sections in which the relaxin antiserum was absorbed with purified rabbit relaxin or substituted with normal guinea pig serum contained no gold-labeled granules. Cross-reactivity of the rabbit relaxin antiserum with porcine relaxin was demonstrated by labeling of the relaxin-containing granules in the pregnant pig corpus luteum with the rabbit relaxin antiserum and by inhibiting the labeling of rabbit placental and pig corpora luteal granules by absorbing the rabbit relaxin antiserum with porcine relaxin. We have previously described the labeling of rabbit placental relaxin with porcine relaxin antiserum. This study suggests that relaxin is synthesized and secreted from the syncytiotrophoblast of the rabbit placenta, with the subcellular site of storage being membrane-bounded granules.