A 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase specific for prostaglandin A in rabbit kidney

Examination of a soluble fraction derived from homogenates of rabbit kidney papilla revealed the existence of a 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase specific for A-type prostaglandins. Prostaglandins of the E- and F-series were not substrates for this enzyme. In agreement with published data, the 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase(s) derived from the kidney cortex were found to degrade all prostaglandins examined (PGE, PGF, PGA) in the presence of added cofactor NAD. Thus it is evident that in this species the kidney 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases are anatomically compartmentalized so that the papilla is able to metabpable of degrading E-, F-, and A-type prostaglandins by this metabolic pathway.