Peritoneal fluid 6‐keto‐prostaglandin FL α , thromboxane B2 in endometriosis and unexplained infertility

. To study peritoneal fluid (PF) prostaglandin (PG) in infertile women, 6‐keto‐PGFla (a breakdown product of prostacyclin) and thromboxane B2 (T × B2) (a metabolite of T × A2) were assayed with radio‐immunoassays from PF samples collected at laparascopy from patients with endo‐metriosis (n = 29), unexplained infertility (n = 13) and from women with normal pelvic organs (n = 25). The concentrations of 6‐keto‐PGFla and T×82 in PF were increased (p<0.05) in endometriosis and unexplained infertility, as compared with the corresponding levels in the controls. In patients with endometriosis, both 6‐keto‐PGFla and T × B2 increases were related to the severity of the disease. There was no relationship between 6‐keto‐PGF1α × B2 in PF, and day of menstrual cycle. It is suggested that endometriotic tissue and peritoneal macrophages may contribute to these prostanoids in PF. The smooth muscle activities of PF prostacyclin and T × A2 may be involved in infertility by interfering with tuba1 function.