Relationship between prostaglandins and cyclic-AMP in the process of implantation in rats

The effect of alloxan, a known inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, on the levels of prostaglandins E and F was investigated in pregnant rats. Animals were treated intraluminally with alloxan in normal saline or alloxan plus cyclic-AMP in normal saline or normal saline alone on day 4 of pregnancy. The uteri were collected on days 5 and 6 of pregnancy and the prostaglandins E and F were extracted and measured by a radioimmunoassay technique. In the alloxan treated rats, a significant reduction in PGE and PGF levels was found on days 5 and 6 of pregnancy as compared to untreated control group, whereas in the alloxan plus cyclic-AMP treated group the levels of PGE and PGF were comparable to those of the untreated control group. These findings suggest a possible relationship between prostaglandins and cyclic-AMP in the process of implantation in rats.