Aging: Effects on the prostaglandin production by skeletal muscle of male rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta)

Abstract

Prostaglandin (PG) production from [1- 14C]archidonic acid was measured in homogenates of sartorius muscle of aged (more than 20 years) and young adult (7 to 11 years) rhesus monkeys. Total production by the aged series (3.21 ± 0.31 (S.E.) nmol PG per g N per min) was about two times that of the young series (1.76 ± 0.14 (S.E.) nmol per g N per min). Epinephrine-stimulated PG production was also twice as great in the aged muscle series as in the young adult series (7.22 ± 0.74 (S.E.) and 3.54 ± 0.52 (S.E.) nmol per g N per min). This differences was mainly due to greater production of 6-keto-PGF1 α and PGF 2α. In both series, the addition of 500 μM epinephrine to the assay media significantly increased production of all types of PGs measured (6-keto-PGF 1α, PGF2 2∞ PGE 2 plus thromboxane B 2 [TXB 2], the stable breakdown product of TXA 2, and PGD 2). The absolute increases in all types of PGs studied in the presence of epinephrine were significantly greater in the aged muscles, with the exception of PGF 2α. The distribution patterns of the various types of PGs studied were similar in all series, except for 6-keto-PGF 1α; this PG accounted for a greater percentage of the total production by aged muscle than by young adult muscle ( p < 0.05).