Hyperglycemia promotes elevated generation of TXA2 in isolated rat uteri

The relationship between high glucose concentrations and arachidonic acid metabolism in uterine tissue from control and diabetic ovariectomized rats was evaluated. Uterine tissue from diabetic rats produced amounts of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha similar to controls, while a lower production of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (indicating the production of prostacyclin) and a higher production of TXB2 (indicating the generation of TXA2) was found in the diabetic group. A group of diabetic rats was treated with phlorizin to diminish plasma glucose levels. Phlorizin treatment did not alter production of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the diabetic group. A diminished production of TXB2 was found in the treated diabetic uteri when compared to the non-treated diabetic group. Moreover, a positive correlation between plasma glucose levels and uterine TXB2 generation was observed. When control uterine tissue was exposed in vitro to high concentrations of glucose (22 mM) and compared to control tissue incubated in the presence of glucose 11 mM alterations in the generation of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were not found, but a higher production of TXB2 was observed and values were similar to those obtained in the diabetic tissue. Alteration in the production of the prostanoids evaluated were not observed when diabetic tissue was incubated in the presence of high concentrations of glucose. These results provide evidence of a direct relationship between plasma glucose levels and uterine production of TXA2.