The relationship between the concentration of female sex steroids and prostaglandins production by human gingiva in vitro.

The relationship between various concentrations of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone, alone and in combination, and the formation of radioactive prostaglandins (PGs) from 14C-arachidonic acid by gingival homogenate has been investigated. There was a statistically significant negative linear trend between each of the hormone treatments at concentrations of 10(-9), 10(-7), 10(-5) and 10(-3)M and the amounts of 6-keto-PGF1a, PGF2a, PGE2, PGD2 and 15-keto-PGE2 formed. Each of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone at 10(-9) and 10(-7)M exerted stimulatory effect, whereas at higher concentrations they had an inhibitory effect on all PGs tested. These observations suggest that the concentration of female sex hormones is an important factor in regulating PG biosynthesis by gingival tissue.