Prostaglandin synthesis in the male and female reproductive tract

Introduction Prostaglandins (PGs) and closely related compounds (prostanoids) are a family of lipid substances derived from arachidonic acid which have potent and diverse pharmacological actions. The result of much prostaglandin research over the past 50 years has been the demonstration of an ever increasing number of prostanoid structures. Some of these have actions which suggest a physiological role but there are also many prostanoid compounds without a clearly identified action and many are without obvious biological significance. In particular there has been little success to date in attributing a role to the major prostaglandins (PGs A to F). This is particularly apparent in reproductive physiology in which early work established high concentrations of PGE and PGF in human semen (von Euler, 1936) and in menstrual fluid (Pickles, 1957). The concentrations in semen and menstrual fluid probably represent the highest concentrations of PGs found in the human body and yet today we can do little but theorize on the role of PGs in the male and female reproductive tract.