Immunohistochemical localization of relaxin in human prostate.

Abstract

We identified relaxin in human male prostate by use of an anti-human relaxin analogue polyclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. The antibody was obtained by immunizing a rabbit with a synthetic human relaxin analogue which has 95% sequence homology with native human relaxin. Human prostate tissues incubated with the anti-human relaxin analogue exhibited positive immunostaining up to an antibody dilution of 1:3200. Inhibition of immunostaining with this antibody by excess relaxin analogue demonstrated specificity of the antibody. The exact role of relaxin in human male reproductive physiology remains to be fully elucidated.