Title: Relaxin
Description: The Fifteenth Midwest Conference on Endocrinology and Metabolism, held at the University of Missouri-Columbia on October 11th and 12th, 1979, hosted the most prominent active researchers in the world on the subject of the hormone relaxin. Each speaker presented an in-depth coverage of his chosen topic and area of expertise. Some of the data presented in this book are findings which have not been published in a scientific journal. The topic of this conference is especially timely in light of the fact that this is a first conference devoted specifically to the hormone relaxin. Progress on this hormone has been exceedingly rapid in recent years and many significant breakthroughs are documented in these pages. Lively discussions following each presentation attest to the enthusiastic research effort being pursued at the present time concerning relaxin. Traditionally the Midwest Conferences on Endocrinology and Metabolism have emphasized breadth as well as depth of coverage.

The present Conference has covered the many active areas of research in relaxin, including morphological aspects of the hormone's origin, chemical purification and chemical structure, bioassays, radioimmunoassays, receptors, mechanism of biochemical action and physiological responses to the hormone. Advances in relaxin were slow since its discovery by Dr. Frederick Hisaw, Sr. in 1926 until the availability of homogenous preparations some seven years ago. In the succeeding seven years, activity in the subject has accelerated remarkably. Because of the noteworthy advances in recent years, the topic of the present conference was especially timely. In recognition of the original contribution by Dr. Hisaw in his discovery of relaxin, we dedicate this volume in his honor. The Editor is most appreciative of the excellent manuscripts which the speakers provided for the Proceedings.

The Moderators and staff of Conferences and Short Courses for the abilities in organizing and presenting this Conference. The Planning Committee is grateful for financial support from various sources, especially the National Science Foundation.
Subjects: Congres, Congres comme sujet, Relaxine, Congresses, Relaxin