Analysis of prostaglandins in rat vesicular glands

Techniques are described whereby problems in the analysis of endogenous prostaglandins in rat vesicular glands are obviated by the use of powdered glands prepared by grinding the tissues in the frozen state. Freshly excised glands were cut into small pieces, frozen on dry ice and then pulverized to a fine powder. These powders were used as such or extracted with acetone. In the latter technique, the endogenous prostaglandins were quantitatively extracted into acetone, and most of the biological activity for prostaglandin synthesis was retained in the residual cake. Application of the techniques showed that the E2 form was the major prostaglandin of the E series in rat vesicular glands.