Limit of detection: 80% B/B₀: 9 pg/ml · Sensitivity: 50% B/B₀: 52 pg/ml · Prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) is one of the five primary PGs derived enzymatically directly from the endoperoxide PGH₂. It was initially discovered in seminal fluid, and to date the majority of the functional roles ascribed to it relate to fertility, pregnancy, and parturition. PGF_2α is a potent luteolytic agent and is used to induce ovulation in domestic livestock. It is also a potent uterine stimulant, and is part of the cascade of myometrial stimulants which induce and sustain labor. PGF_2α is rapidly metabolized to 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF_2α in vivo, and the levels of this metabolite in both plasma and amniotic fluid are elevated during active labor in several different mammalian species. Like all of the primary PGs, PGF_2α. has a very short half-life in the general circulation. The plasma concentration of PGF_2α in humans is <10 pg/ml, and probably no more than 1-2 pg/ml.¹ PGF_2α is rapidly metabolized by 15-hydroxy PG dehydrogenase and both β- and ω-oxidation systems to a variety of polar metabolites.² In primary cultures, the metabolism of PGF_2α is much more limited, and it may collect in the supernatant medium to easily measured concentrations.³ Amnionic and placental tissue PGF_2α content in the range from 100-250 ng/g of tissue has been reported.⁴ However, this study did not address the presence of isoprostanes and reported measurements using an unvalidated RIA method. A controlled GC- or LC-MS study of tissue PG content has not been reported. Tissue PG measurements in general are difficult to perform, vary widely, and are challenging to interpret.

1 Schweer, H., Kammer, J., and Seyberth, H.W. Simultaneous determination of prostanoids in plasma by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr 338 273-280 (1985).

2 Granström, E., and Kindahl, H. Species differences in circulating prostaglandin metabolites relevance for the assay of prostaglandin release. Biochim Biophys Acta 713 555-569 (1982).

3 Ritzi, E.M., Boto, W.O., and Stylos, W.A. Measurement of initial prostaglandin F metabolites in medium of BALB/c 3T3 and SV3T3 mouse fibroblast cultures. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 63 179-186 (1975).

4 Reece, M.S., McGregor, J.A., Allen, K.G.D., et al. Prostaglandins in selected reproductive tissues in preterm and full term gestations. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 55 303-307 (1996).

Tsai, S., and Wiltbank, M.C. Prostaglandin F_2α induces expression of prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 in the ovine corpus luteum: A potential positive feedback loop during luteolysis. Biol Reprod 57 1016-1022 (1997).

West, R.E., Williams, S.M., She, H.S., et al. Tomoxiprole selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-2. Prostaglandins 54 891-898 (1997).

Oudot, F., Grynberg, A., and Sergiel, J.P. Eicosanoid synthesis in cardiomyocytes: Influence of hypoxia, reoxygenation, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Am J Physiol 268 H308-H315 (1995).

Maclouf, J., Grassi, J., and Pradelles, P. Development of enzyme-immunoassay techniques for the measurement of eicosanoids. 355-364 (1987).

Muth-Selbach, U.S., Tegeder, I., Brune, K., et al. Acetaminophen inhibits spinal prostaglandin E₂ release after peripheral noxious stimulation. Anesthesiology 91 231-239 (1999).

Farman, N., Pradelles, P., and Bonvalet, J.P. PGE₂, PGF_2α, 6-keto-PGF_1α, and TXB₂ synthesis along the rabbit nephron. Am J Physiol 252 F53-F59 (1987).

Schweer, H., Kammer, J., and Seyberth, H.W. Simultaneous determination of prostanoids in plasma by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr 338 273-280 (1985).

Maxey, K.M., Maddipati, K.R., and Birkmeier, J. Interference in enzyme immunoassays. J Clin Immunoassay 15 116-120 (1992).

Pradelles, P., Grassi, J., and Maclouf, J.A. Enzyme immunoassays of eicosanoids using acetylcholinesterase as label: An alternative to radioimmunoassay. Anal Chem 57 1170-1173 (1985).

Ritzi, E.M., Boto, W.O., and Stylos, W.A. Measurement of initial prostaglandin F metabolites in medium of BALB/c 3T3 and SV3T3 mouse fibroblast cultures. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 63 179-186 (1975).

Granström, E., and Kindahl, H. Species differences in circulating prostaglandin metabolites relevance for the assay of prostaglandin release. Biochim Biophys Acta 713 555-569 (1982).

Janabi, N., Chabrier, S., and Tardieu, M. Endogenous nitric oxide activates prostaglandin F_2α production in human microglial cells but not in astrocytes. A study of interactions between eicosanoids, nitric oxide, and superoxide anion (O₂-) regulatory pathways. J Immunol 157 2129-2135 (1996).

Ledwith, B.J., Pauley, C.J., Wagner, L.K., et al. Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by peroxisome proliferators and non-tetradecanoylphorbol 12,13-myristate-type tumor promoters in immortalized mouse liver cells. J Biol Chem 272 3707-3714 (1997).

Thibodeaux, J.K., Broussard, J.R., Godke, R.A., et al. Stimulation of progesterone production in bovine luteal cells by co-incubation with bovine blastocyst-stage embryos or trophoblastic vesicles. J Reprod Fertil 101 657-662 (1994).

Arslan, A., and Zingg, H.H. Regulation of COX-2 gene expression in rat uterus in vivo and in vitro. Prostaglandins 52 463-481 (1996).

Schierhorn, K., Zhang, M., Kacy, M., et al. Ozone-induced augmentation of eicosanoid metabolism in human nasal mucosa in vitro. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 113 312-315 (1997).

Ram, A., Pandey, H.P., Matsumura, H., et al. CSF levels of prostaglandins, especially the level of prostaglandin D₂, are correlated with increasing propensity towards sleep in rats. Brain Res 751 81-89 (1997).

Reece, M.S., McGregor, J.A., Allen, K.G.D., et al. Prostaglandins in selected reproductive tissues in preterm and full term gestations. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 55 303-307 (1996).

Anderson, K.M., Roshak, A., Winkler, J.D., et al. Cytosolic 85-kDa phospholipase A₂-mediated release of arachidonic acid is critical for proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem 272 30504-30511 (1997).

Hong, J., and Lee, L. Cigarette smoke-induced bronchoconstriction: Causative agents and role of thromboxane receptors. J Appl Physiol 78 2260-2266 (1995).

Carabaza, A., Cabré, F., García, A.M., et al. Stereoselective inhibition of rat brain cyclooxygenase by dexketoprofen. Chirality 9 281-285 (1997).

Blair, R.M., Saatman, R., Liou, S.S., et al. Roles of leukotrienes in bovine corpus luteum regression: An in vivo microdialysis study. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 216 72-80 (1997).

Show all 22 Hide all but first 3