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Prostacyclin is a circulating hormone

Abstract

PROSTACYCLIN (PGI2) is generated by vascular walls from arachidonic acid or prostaglandin endoperoxides1. It is the most potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation so far described, and acts by increasing cyclic AMP in the platelets2,3, presumably through adenyl cyclase stimulation. The enzyme which synthesises prostacyclin is concentrated in the endothelial lining of the vessels4; clearly, platelets could be prevented from clumping onto the walls of healthy vessels by the generation of prostacyclin5. Unlike prostaglandin E2 or F, prostacyclin is not inactivated as it passes through the pulmonary circulation6,7, and in dog lungs, in vivo, prostacyclin is the major metabolite generated during an infusion of arachidonic acid8. In the preceding paper, Gryglewski et al.9 conclude that prostacyclin is continuously generated by and released from cat lungs in vivo. We report here that we have confirmed this conclusion in a different species (rabbits) by the use of an antiserum which cross-reacts with prostacyclin and neutralises its anti-aggregating activity10. This antiserum (PGI2 antiserum) was raised in rabbits using a stable analogue of prostacyclin, 5,6-dihydro-prostacyclin (PGI1), as the hapten, conjugated to bovine serum albumin10.

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MONCADA, S., KORBUT, R., BUNTING, S. et al. Prostacyclin is a circulating hormone. Nature 273, 767–768 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/273767a0

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