Effect of catecholestrogens on prostaglandin release by rat pituitaries superfused in vitro.

We studied the action of catecholestrogens on prostaglandin and LH release by female rat pituitaries superfused in vitro. Their actions were compared to those of estradiol (E2) at the same concentration (10(-6) M). By comparison with E2 the action of 2-OHE2 was only the same on total PGE2 release. 4-OHE2-17 beta stimulated LH like E2 but the values for PGD2 and PGE2 were about 20-30% lower. However, the release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was about 35% higher. 4-OHE2-17 alpha had no comparable action on PG release but stimulated a significant LH release. There was no action on TxB2 in any case.