Conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins in homogenates of human skeletal muscle and kidney

The capacity of human skeletal muscle and kidney homogenates to synthetize prostaglandins (PGs) from exogenous precursor was investigated. Low-speed supernatants of muscle as well as renal medullary and cortical homogenates were incubated with 14C-labelled arachidonic acid (14C-AA) prepared as a sodium salt. 14C-PGs in the incubates were extracted, separated with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and quantified by radioscanning. In the skeletal muscle incubates 14C-AA was converted into 14C-PGs with a time-dependent yield, most effectively after 10--15 min incubation. Well-defined radiopeaks parallel to unlabelled standards of PGD2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were obtained in the chromatograms. PGE2 was the main PG formed, constituting over 50% of 14C-activity, whereas 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGD2 and PGF2 alpha were found in considerably lower proportions. In the renal medullary incubates, PGE2 likewise accounted for the largest part of 14C-PGs formed, but significant relative amounts of PGF2 alpha and PGD2 were also found. A minor peak, corresponding to 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thus indicating formation of PGI2, was also obtained. In contrast to the medulla, no 14C-PGs could be found in the renal cortical incubates. The results demonstrate the existence of a considerable tissue specificity in the quantitative and qualitative expression of PG biosynthesis in man.