We investigated the effect of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on prostaglandin (PG) production by the uterus. A mixed population of endometrial cells (epthelium and stroma) from late-gestation ewes were cultured in defined medium containing linoleic acid (LA, 18:2, n-6), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3, n-6) or arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4, n-6) in concentrations of 0 (control), 20 or 100 microM. After 45 h in test medium with or without added PUFAs, cells were challenged with control medium (CM), oxytocin (OT, 250 nM), lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.1 micro g/ml) or dexamethasone (DEX, 5 microM) for 22 h in the continued presence of the same concentration of PUFA and the medium was collected for measurement of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2). Supplementation with LA inhibited the production of PGF(2alpha) but did not alter PGE(2), whereas GLA and AA increased production of both PGs. All PUFA supplements thus increased the ratio of PGE(2) to PGF(2alpha) (E:F ratio) two- to threefold. In control cells, OT and LPS challenges stimulated the production of PGF(2alpha) and PGE(2). In all challenge groups, the concentrations of PGF(2alpha) in response to PUFAs followed the same pattern - LA

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. C. Wathes, D. R. E. Abayasekara, and R. J. Aitken Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Male and Female Reproduction Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 190 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Vakharia and J. P. Hinson Lipopolysaccharide Directly Stimulates Cortisol Secretion by Human Adrenal Cells by a Cyclooxygenase-Dependent Mechanism Endocrinology, March 1, 2005; 146(3): 1398 - 1402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z Cheng, M Elmes, S E Kirkup, E C Chin, D R E Abayasekara, and D C Wathes The effect of a diet supplemented with the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid on prostaglandin production in early- and late-pregnant ewes J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2005; 184(1): 165 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]