Plasma Relaxin Levels During Late Pregnancy and at Parturition in Pigs with Altered Utero-Ovarian Connections1

Abstract

Levels of plasma relaxin were determined during late pregnancy and at parturition in gilts in which the normal utero-ovarian anatomical relationship was altered on one of three ways: Group 1, ovaries transplanted to the adjacent uterine wall; Group II, ovaries transplanted to the abdominal wall; and Group III, one uterine horn and its contralateral ovary removed. In all three groups the prepartum pattern of relaxin concentrations was similar to that of normal intact gilts. Mean concentrations of relaxin during the two days immediately preceding parturition were significantly greater than all other days (P<0.05).