Relaxin increases rat heart rate by a direct action on the cardiac atrium

Relaxin (Rlx) is best understood as a protein hormone of pregnancy that can influence pelvic and cervical connective tissue as well as uterine smooth muscle activity. Thus, it was unexpected that dense Rlx binding sites would be found in the rat cardiac atrium. To functionally characterize this finding, isolated rat atria were challenged with Rlx (0.3 to 30 ng/ml), and they responded with an increased rate (+36%) and force (+38%) of contraction Further studies in conscious normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats established by minipump circulating Rlx levels of about 0.5 and 5 ng/ml over 1 to 2 wks. There were significant increases in heart rate of 10-15%, with no consistent changes in blood or urine volume, water or food intake, and mean arterial pressure. We conclude that Rlx can directly stimulate rat cardiac atrial activity in vitro and cause chronotropy in vivo.