Prostaglandin synthesis by isolated cells of rat uterus: Production rates, and effects of indomethacin and histamine

Abstract

Luminal epithelial and residual cells (mainly of the endometrial stromal tissue) of proestrous rat uteri have been isolated and cultured in defined medium. The prostaglandins produced during a short-term incubation (2 h) in the presence of 10 μM arachidonic acid (to optimize PG production) were determined by direct assay of the culture medium. For the epithelial cells, PGF 2α was produced in greatest amounts, followed by 6-keto PGF 1α and PGE, while low levels were synthesized by the residual cells. The synthesis of PGF 2α by the epithelial cells was inhibited by incorporating indometahcin into the medium and an IC 50 value of 2.3 μM was obtained. Incubations performed with histamine in the absence of exogenous arachidonic acid indicated that the pathways for the production of individual prostaglandins were followed to different relative extents, with the production of 6-keto PGF 1α being enhanced for both groups of cells when compared to incubations with arachidonic acid.