Central and peripheral circulatory effects and metabolic effects of different prostaglandins given I.V. to man

Cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, pressures in the brachial artery, right ventricle and pulmonary artery, forearm blood flow, and arterial concentration of FFA, lactate and glucose were measured in healthy male volunteers during i-v infusion of PGE1, PGE2, PGF2 alpha or 15-methyl PGF2 alpha in increasing doses. In accordance with previous findings PGE1 and PGE2 increased cardiac output by a vasodilating effect in the systemic and pulmonary vascular bed, probably in combination with an inotropic effect on the heart. 15-methyl PGF2 alpha had essentially the same cardiovascular effects as PGF2 alpha. They induced a slight increase in cardiac output due to effects on heart rate, while systemic vascular resistance was unchanged. Forearm vascular resistance increased and pressures in the pulmonary circulation rose, indicating a vasoconstriction in these vascular beds. Glucose concentrations was not affected nor were lactate concentrations, except for a slight decrease of unclear significance in the group receiving 15-methyl PGF2 alpha. FFA increased slowly in the same manner as seen spontaneously in fasting individuals. These data do not indicate direct metabolic effects of the prostaglandins studied when given i-v.