Metabolism of prostaglandin E in dog kidneys

1. The biotransformation of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) was studied in the isolated, perfused dog kidneys.2. An average 43% of PGE(1) was converted into the less polar metabolite I by a single passage through the kidney. As the re-circulation of the perfusate continued, PGE(1) was converted not only into metabolite I but also the least polar metabolite II. The velocity of the conversion of PGE(1) into metabolite I was significantly greater than that into metabolite II. Usually, six passages elapsed before maximum degradation of PGE(1) occurred.3. Further separation with silicic acid column chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography showed that metabolite II consists of two individual metabolites, metabolite IIa and metabolite IIb.4. The present study indicates that the kidney biotransforms PGE(1) rather rapidly into three metabolites which are less polar than PGE(1).