Prostaglandins in the regulation of circulation and blood pressure.

Endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) participate in the regulation of local circulation, and presumably also in the control of systemic blood pressure. Vasodilatory PGs synthesized in resistance vessels seem to maintain the basal blood flow in some tissues. Vasoconstriction stimulates the PG synthesis in vessel walls, and the vasodilatory PGs antagonize this constriction in several vascular beds. Circulating vasodilatory PGs or their metabolites may function as antihypertensive hormones. Reports on the effect of intrarenal PG production on renal function are contradictory. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and kallikrein-kinin systems have complex interrelations with PGs. PGs may also participate in the mechanism of action of some cardiovascular drugs.