Relaxin-like factor (RLF), also known as Leydig insulin-like peptide (Ley-I-L) or Insulin 3 (INSL3), is a newly characterized member of the insulin peptide family. Amino acid sequence homology revealed that RLF is more closely related to relaxin than any other insulin-like hormones. The main aim of this thesis was to sequence the rat RLF (Relaxin-like factor) gene and determine the structure and organisation of the gene. Secondly to compare the structural organisation of the rat RLF/JAK3 genomic region with that of the mouse and human, using bioinformatic databases. Thirdly to further investigate the signalling pathways for the RLF receptor, in particular the NFƒÛB pathway. The homology between rat and mouse in the JAK3/RLF region revealed 84.4 % similarity over 1262 bp of DNA sequence, observing that unlike the mouse, the rat RLF promoter is separated from the JAK3 gene by around 700-1000 bp. Similarly in humans, the RLF gene is located around 4 kb downstre am from JAK3. Also Protein kinase A (PKA) was the only signalling pathway which dispalyed major induction and no inhibitory effects were observed through the NFƒÛB signalling pathway.