The effect of porcine relaxin on the fertilisation of mouse oocytes in vitro.

Abstract

The mouse in vitro fertilisation (IVF) model was used to investigate the effect of porcine relaxin on fertilisation. Porcine relaxin (10 ng/ml) significantly increased the proportion of oocytes fertilised by suboptimal concentrations of mouse spermatozoa. Pronuclear formation was significantly greater in the presence of relaxin. These findings may have clinical importance in the future for improving the success of IVF procedures, and improving pregnancy rates.