# HUMAN DECIDUA AND FETAL MEMBRANES AS A PARACRINE SYSTEM

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 1994 · $151,476

## Abstract

The potential of the human decidua/fetal membrane system as an accessible
autocrine/paracrine model will be further explored, in order to elucidate
the role of relaxins in the local control of collagenolysis and the rupture
of the fetal membranes at parturition.  An added challenge is our finding
that the second human relaxin gene (H1) is expressed in this system.

This will be accomplished by studying the four components of the relaxin
system: gene expression, control of secretion, biological effects and
receptor distribution.

Relaxin H1 and H2 gene expression and the translated products, will be
identified in the endometrium/decidua, fetal membranes and placenta with
specific riboprobes and antibodies throughout the cycle and pregnancy.

The effect on decidual cell relaxin secretion and the mRNA levels for
relaxins by a range of decidual and placental hormones will be studied in
in vitro.

The biological effects of human relaxin H2 on fetal membrane/decidual
production of key collagenolytic enzymes and inhibitors will be sought both
in vitro and in vivo.

Changes in the concentration of relaxin receptors in intrauterine tissues
will be studied through the cycle and gestation by quantitative
autoradiography and the results related to those from the experiments
above.

The combined results will provide insights into significant problems, the
local control of the accommodation of the fetal membranes to the growing
fetus in the last weeks of pregnancy, and the timing of normal spontaneous
membrane rupture.  These studies will lead to a greater understanding of
premature rupture of the fetal membranes, a major cause of premature birth
which results in infants with a high incidence of neurodevelopmental
impairment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199124
- **Project number:** 5R01HD024314-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NSCKLFSSABF2
- **Principal Investigator:** Gillian Doreen Bryant-Greenwood
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $151,476
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-01-01 → 1995-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199124

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199124, HUMAN DECIDUA AND FETAL MEMBRANES AS A PARACRINE SYSTEM (5R01HD024314-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199124. Licensed CC0.

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