The role of prostaglandin E2 in duodenal mucosa of healthy subjects and duodenal ulcer patients.

: The distribution of the mucosal PGE2-generating capacity was bioassayed in the duodenum of 17 patients with duodenal ulcer (age range 20-58 years), and in 17 subjects (age range 21-57 years) who did not suffer from this disease. The age of the subjects within both groups was precisely matched in pairs. In contrast to the "young" controls or the "young" patients (under 37) or the "old" patients (over 37) the "old" control group of subjects showed an age-dependent increase in the mucosal PGE2 generation. It is concluded that with increasing age the mucosal PGE2 plays an increasingly important role in the protection against duodenal ulcers.