Effects of the hormone relaxin on the metabolism of the glycosaminoglycans in the mouse symphysis pubis

The influence of the peptide hormone relaxin on the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) metabolism was investigated in the pubic ligament of the symphysis pubis and in serum of the virgin mouse. Fresh weight DNA and GAG content per 1 ligament is significantly increased, the level of water soluble protein is not affected. A shift in the electrophoretic GAG pattern by an increasing amount of hyaluronic acid and a decreasing amount of chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate can be observed. Concerning GAG-splitting enzymes (N-acetylglucosaminidase, arylsulfatase, beta-glucuronidase) the N-acetylglucosaminidase reveals a significant increase of its activity in the interpubic ligament and in the serum. The data demonstrate that relaxin treatment induces some changes in the GAG metabolism.