Prostaglandin-E2 and cyclic adenosine 3'-5' monophosphate levels in the hypertrophied rat heart.

To assess whether prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) are involved in the cardiac response to chronic pressure overload, we measured by specific radioimmunoassay method the cardiac tissue and plasma concentrations of PGE2 and cAMP in an animal model of left ventricular hypertrophy. The cardiac hypertrophy was accompanied by a significant increase in PGE2 content, and a significant decrease in cAMP content, in the heart. In addition, we found elevated PGE2 and cAMP levels in arterial plasma samples from the rats with hypertrophied hearts compared to normal rats. These findings suggest a link between cardiac and vascular PGE2 and cAMP generation and the hemodynamic stresses of advanced cardiac overload.