[Reproductive pharmacology of prostaglandins]

Effects of prostaglandins and their analogues in reproduction were investigated using rats and Japanese monkeys. Prostaglandin of the F series exerted uterine contractile, luteolytic, anti-nidation and abortifacient effects. Prostaglandins of the E series exhibited a potent uterine contractile effect, although their luteolytic, anti-nidation and abortifacient effects were much less potent than those of the PGF series. A comparison of animal and human data on prostaglandins and their analogues indicated a good cor-relationship between the uterine contractile effect in animals (rates and monkeys) and the abortifacient or labor inducing effect in humans.