Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Rat Relaxin: Production, Characterization and Use to Neutralize the Biological Actions of Endogenous Relaxin Throughout the Second Half of Pregnancy in the Rat

The role of relaxin during pregnancy and at parturition in the rat is not absolutely established. There are limitations to the experimental approach used in the few studies that examined the influence of relaxin in the pregnant rat. These studies were unphysiological since they involved exogenous administration of porcine relaxin, progesterone and estrogen to ovariectomized pregnant rats. The purpose of the present research was to use a rigorous and physiological approach to determine the role of relaxin on birth in the rat. That approach involved the passive neutralization of endogenous relaxin bioactivity with monoclonal antibodies in intact pregnant rats.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Lao Guico, Marilyn Serna

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sherwood, O. David

• Biology, Animal Physiology

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8823179

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71458