The production of prostaglandin and the regulation of cell division in neonate rat primary mixed glial cultures.

The production of prostaglandins has been studied in neonate rat primary mixed glial cultures. A correlation was found between inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation in the cultures and production of prostaglandin, which was stimulated by the addition of supernatant from Con A-activated rat splenocytes. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the cultures by indomethacin results in a striking increase in incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cultures, an effect which was reversed by the addition of exogenous PGE2, but not PGF2 alpha. PGE was the principal prostaglandin detected, with both macrophages/microglia and astrocytes contributing to the output. A possible role for prostaglandins in the modulation of inflammatory responses in the central nervous system is discussed.