The specificity of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in reducing coronary vascular resistance: A comparison with adenosine

Experiments were performed on the isolated, electrically driven guinea-pig heart, perfused at constant rate. All animals were pretreated with reserpine. Myocardial contractile force (MCF), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) and myocardial oxygen consumption (QO2) were monitored continuously. Both adenosine (ADO) and PGE2 produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the CPP. The ED50 (50% of maximum response) was 2.1 +/- 0.6 X 10(-9)M for PGE2 but 40 +/- 7 X 10(-9)M for ADO (P less than 0.01) at 1.8 mM Ca(e). This coronary vasodilation was independent of the external Ca-concentration, which was varied between 0.55-9.0 mM. PGE2 had no effect on MCF or QO2 and the effect of ADO was only slight. There was no evidence that any action of ADO could be inhibited by simultaneously applied PGE2. The results provide evidence for the specific coronary vasodilating action of PGE2 which in this system is about 20 times as effective as adenosine.