Abstract

PIP: Prostaglandins were extracted from the prostate gland and testicles of sheep in the form of a barium salt and were used in experiments on rabbits and cats. Intravenous injection of prostaglandins caused a decrease in blood pressure; this effect was reduced or absent after hepatic blood vessels were cut off or after the animal had been eviscerated. Intravenous injection or injection into the v. portae caused an increase in the portal blood pressure and a decrease in the right anterior ventricle. No significant effects of prostaglandin on heart-lung preparations were observed. Perfusion of the lung with prostaglandin caused vasoconstriction. Prostaglandin perfusion of the posterior end caused vasodilatation, which was not as marked in the case of the cats. Perfusion of the kidney caused vasoconstriction in cats and vasodilatation in rabbits. A latency period was observed between intraarterial prostaglandin injection and its effects; this period was longer than for other substances with vasodilatory effect. Prostaglandin injections can counteract vasoconstriction caused by adrenalin; prostaglandin was also shown to counteract the effect of adrenalin in the uterus of rabbits.