Prostaglandins are not involved in the differentiation or growth of cultured small intestinal cells.

Prostaglandins have been reported to exert trophic effects on gastrointestinal tissues. To determine whether there is a direct interaction with enterocytes, prostaglandins PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGA2, PGB2 and the stable PGE2 derivative suleprost as well as the prostacyclin derivative nileprost were tested in rabbit ileal mucosa under organ culture conditions. At concentrations between 10(-9) and 10(-5) M, none of the prostaglandins significantly affected biopsy DNA or protein content, or the activity of the brush border enzymes alkaline phosphatase, lactase, sucrase or maltase. The inhibition of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin also failed to alter these parameters. Moreover, the growth rate of a rat duodenal crypt cell line was unaffected when cultured in the presence of PGE2, PGF2 alpha or indomethacin. Thus, there was no evidence for a direct effect of exogenous or endogenous prostaglandins or their deficiency on the differentiation or growth in cultured small intestinal cells.