THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND BIOASSAY OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN EXTRACTS OF SEMEN AND TISSUES OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT

Arachidonic Acid Pathways and Male Fertility: A Systematic Review

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is involved in male fertility. Human seminal fluid contains different prostaglandins: PGE (PGE₁ and PGE₂), PGF_2α, and their specific 19-hydroxy derivatives, 18,19-dehydro derivatives of PGE₁ and PGE₂. The objective of this study is to synthesize the available literature of in vivo animal studies and human clinical trials on the association between the AA pathway and male fertility. PGE is significantly decreased in the semen of infertile men, suggesting the potential for exploitation of PGE agonists to improve male fertility. Indeed, ibuprofen can affect male fertility by promoting alterations in sperm function and standard semen parameters. The results showed that targeting the AA pathways could be an attractive strategy for the treatment of male fertility.

A structure-activity study on the influence of phenolic compounds and bioflavonoids on rat renal prostaglandin synthetase

The stimulating or inhibiting influences of 33 phenolic compounds on the prostaglandin synthetase of rat renal medulla were tested. Dihydroxyphenylcarbonic acids clearly proved to be activators of the prostaglandin synthetase. Dimethoxyphenylcarbonic acids were ineffective. Aminoethylphenols as well as p-substituted monohydroxybenzenes with a carbonic acid side chain were clear stimulators in contrast to their alkyl derivatives which are pronounced inhibitors. Among the tested bioflavonoids (+)-cyanidanol-3 and morin were inhibitors of the prostaglandin synthesis. Flavonoids with polar substitution in 3,5,7-position such as rutin on the other hand showed activating properties.

Prostaglandins A1,A2 and 19-hydroxy A1; their actions on smooth muscle and their inactivation on passage through the pulmonary and hepatic portal vascular beds

1. Prostaglandins A(1), A(2) and 19-hydroxy A(1) have qualitatively similar actions to prostaglandin E(1) on smooth muscle.2. The prostaglandins A have little activity on gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive smooth muscle but are potent depressors of the systemic arterial blood pressure of the dog, cat and rabbit.3. Our experiments support the view that the depressor action of the prostaglandins E and A is due to a direct dilator action on many peripheral vascular beds and not due to changes in nervous tone to these beds.4. A single passage through the pulmonary circulation of the cat or dog causes substantial loss of the vasodilator activity of prostaglandin E(1) but little if any loss of the vasodilator activity of the prostaglandins A.5. A single passage through the hepatic portal circulation of the cat causes substantial loss of the vasodilator activity of prostaglandins E(1), A(1) and A(2).6. The cat blood pressure and rat fundal strip would be a suitable combination for the parallel biological assay of the prostaglandins A(1) and A(2).