Gene expression pattern of relaxins and their receptors in Danio rerio

The relaxin (RLN) peptides exert different biological effects ranging from reproduction to regulating central nervous processes. Until now, few studies have been performed in embryonic development and in vertebrate models beyond mammals. I used zebrafish, as experimental model, to characterize the spatial and temporal expression pattern of the relaxin/receptor system in vertebrate embryogenesis.I showed that, in embryonic development, the different expression areas of relaxin/receptor system and probably their function are conserved between mammals and fishes. Overall, my data provided evidence that the relaxin/receptor system is active during zebrafish embryogenesis, and that their expression territories and probably their function are conserved between mammals and fishes.