DIFFERENTIAL PRODUCTION OF PROSTAGLANDINS WITHIN THE HUMAN-UTERUS

The ability of broken cell preparations of human endometrium, myometrium and a mixture of endometrium and myometrium to convert 14C arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PG's) was compared. Endometrium metabolised arachidonic acid predominantly to a mixture of PGF2α and PGE2. A similar weight of myometrium showed relatively little activity, the major product identified was 6 oxo PGF1α. However, a combination of endometrium and myometrium showed an enhanced conversion of arachidonic acid to 6 oxo PGF1α associated with a decreased production of PGF2α and PGE2. This suggests that human endometrium and myometrium differ in their ability to metabolize arachidonic acid and in their ability to convert the endoperoxides formed, to PG's. © 1979.