Prostacyclin as an endogenous modulator of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate levels in rat myometrium and endometrium
Vesin, M.F.; Khac, L.D.; Harbon, S.
Molecular Pharmacology 16(3): 823-840
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-895X PMID: 231195 Document Number: 145344
The nature of the prostaglandin arachidonic acid in myometrial and endometrial homogenates. No PGE2 or PGD2 could be detected. Basal values of PGI2 released were similar for both uterine tissues (about 60 pmol/g tissue) and were increased with arachidonic acid to 130 pmol PGI2/g tissue. Such local PGI2 concentrations were sufficient to account for the 2-fold increment in tissue cAMP, which was similarly induced by corresponding concentrations of authentic PGI2. Quantitative correlations, PGI2 vs. cAMP, could also be demonstrated under conditions of enhanced PGI2 generation from endogenous arachidonic acid (e.g., during isolation and stripping of the myometrium). Locally generated PGI2 could not be implicated in the contractile effect of arachidonic acid. Endogenous PGI2 may largely contribute to the modulation of intracellular cAMP levels in the myometrium and endometrium.