Bioconversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins by Graafian follicles and stroma from the human ovary.

Abstract In order to study production of prostaglandins (PGs) by human pre-ovulatory ovarian tissue, bioconversion of 14 Carachidonic acid to PGs was examined using homogenates of human Graafian follicles and stromal tissues fully stimulated by endogenous follicle-stimulating hormone in the regular menstrual cycle. Among the radioactive metabolites extracted, PGE 2 and 6-keto PGF 1α were purified and identified by silicic acid column-, thin layer-, reversed phase partition chromatographies and radiogaschromatography. The follicular tissue was shown to convert 14 C-arachidonic acid to PGE 2 at a conversion rate of 0.34% but not to 6-keto PGF 1α . On the other hand, the stromal tissue was demonstrated to produce not only 14 C-labelled PGE 2 at a conversion of 0.09% but mainly 14 C-labelled 6-keto PGF 1α at 0.26%.