Prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase activity during pregnancy in rabbits and rats

Prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase (PGDH) activity in the rabbit lung increased strikingly during pregnancy. This change did not occur in the kidney, or spleen. In the corresponding organs from the rat, PGDH activity was essentially the same in pregnant and non-pregnant animals. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the increased PGDH activity in the pregnant rabbit lung is secondary to an elevated concentration of prostaglandins in the venous blood.