Furosemide directly stimulates prostaglandin E2 production in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

Studies were conducted to investigate direct effects of loop diuretics on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production using microdissected nephron segments. At first, the effect of indomethacin on the diuretic response to furosemide was re-evaluated in anesthetized rats. Indomethacin significantly attenuated the diuretic, natriuretic and chloruretic effects of furosemide without significantly affecting inulin and p-aminohippurate clearance or filtration fraction. But, in nondiuretic states, indomethacin had no significant effects on these parameters. Furosemide, ethacrynic acid and bumetanide significantly increased PGE2 production in cortical and medullary thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop (P less than .001), but not PGE2 production in the cortical and outer medullary collecting tubules. The effect of furosemide on PGE2 production in CTAL was dose-dependent, and higher concentrations of of furosemide than 10(-6) M significantly increased PGE2 production. On the other hand, chlorothiazide showed no PGE2 productive stimulation in these four nephron segments. This study demonstrates that the enhanced PGE2 production in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop by furosemide and other loop diuretics is one possible mechanism of these drugs.