Effect of prostaglandins E1 and F1alpha on the activities of cholesteryl ester synthetase and cholesteryl ester hydrolases of pigeon aorta in vitro.

The in vitro effects of prostaglandins E1 and F1alpha on the activity of cholesteryl ester synthetase and cholesteryl ester hydrolase activities of the pigeon aorta were examined. It was found that prostaglandin E1 markedly inhibited the cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity in the supernatant fraction and slightly inhibited the cholesteryl ester synthetase activity. Prostaglandin F1alpha, however, modestly stimulated the cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity both in the microsomal and in the supernatant fraction of the aorta. These observations strongly warrant further studies on the role of prostaglandins in atherogenesis.