Effects of 19-hydroxy-prostaglandins on oviductal and uterine motility

The effects of 19-hydroxyprostaglandins (19-OH-PGs) were tested in vivo on the rabbit oviduct and uterus and on the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) uterus. The 19-OH-PGEs suppressed spontaneous oviductal and uterine activity in the rabbit. The qualitative effect on the rabbit oviduct of 19-OH-PGEs was similar to that of PGE2. However, the typical response of the rabbit uterus to PGE2 was an increase in muscle activity. With regard to the rabbit oviduct, 19(R)-OH-PGE2 was as potent as PGE2, but 19(S)-OH-PGE2 was approximately 1/2 as potent as PGE2. Based on the dose of 19-OH-PGEs usually required to cause a minimal suppression and the dose of PGE2 required to cause a minimal stimulation of rabbit uterine activity, 19(R)-OH-PGE2 was twice as potent as PGE2 while 19(S)-OH-PGE2 was 1/2 as potent as PGE2. Stimulatory effects on the rabbit oviduct and uterus were observed following administration of 19-OH-PGFs and PGF2alpha. The potency on the rabbit oviduct of 19(S)-OH-PGF2alpha was about 1/5 to 1/10 that of PGF2alpha; the potency of 19(R)-OH-PGF2alpha was about 1/10 to 1/20 that of PGF2alpha. Both 19-OH-PGFs were approximately 1/5 to 1/10 as potent as PGF2alpha on the rabbit uterus. At the doses tested 19-OH-PGFs were inactive on the monkey uterus. Thus, these compounds are at least 1/5 as active as PGF2alpha. In contrast, 19(R)-OH-PGE2 had approximately the same potency as PGE2 in stimulating monkey uterine activity; but 19(S)-OH-PGE2 was approximately 1/3 as potent as PGE2.