Pulmonary prostaglandin metabolism during normobaric hyperoxia

Prostaglandin metabolism by rat lung tissue was measured following exposures of 6, 24 and 48 hours to either pure oxygen or air at one atmosphere. Tissue concentrations of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were not altered by oxygen exposures. Prostaglandin synthetase activity decreased between 24 and 48 hours but was not significantly different from control at 48 hours. Combined prostaglandin dehydrogenase/reductase activity decreased between 24 and 48 hours to 13% of control values and was significantly lower than in air at 48 hours. The plasma concentration of 13, 14 dihydro-15-keto PGF2 alpha, a catabolite of PGF2 alpha, was significantly lower in oxygen-exposed rats at 24 and 48 hours. We conclude that endogenous pulmonary prostaglandin concentrations are maintained during hyperoxia but that catabolism of prostaglandins by the lungs may be impaired.