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THE INFLUENCE OF METYRAPONE ON THE SYNTHESIS AND RELEASE OF PROSTAGLANDINS FROM THE PREGNANT RAT UTERUS in vitro
Author(s) -
PARNHAM M.J.,
SNEDDON J.M.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1975.tb07429.x
Subject(s) - metyrapone , endocrinology , medicine , prostaglandin , uterus , in vitro , arachidonic acid , chemistry , prostaglandins f , prostaglandin e2 , prostaglandin e , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
1 Metyrapone (150 mg/kg, s.c. or i.p.) an inhibitor of corticosteroid biosynthesis, significantly reduced the release of prostaglandins of the F‐type from isolated preparations of pregnant rat uteri in vitro , on day 22 ‐ the expected day of delivery. 2 Metyrapone and indomethacin administered in vitro both inhibited the conversion of 14 C‐arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E 2 by homogenates of day 22 pregnant rat uteri. Metyrapone was approximately 150 times less potent than indomethacin. Although indomethacin also inhibited prostaglandin F2 α production, metyrapone stimulated synthesis of this prostaglandin. The differential inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by metyrapone may reflect sensitivity of the inhibitor to changes in experimental conditions. 3 Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may explain the effects of metyrapone on parturition in the rat.