Testosterone inhibits prostaglandin formation by human gingival connective tissue: relationship to 14C-arachidonic acid metabolism.

The relationship between various concentrations of the male sex steroid, testosterone, and the formation of radioactive prostaglandins (PGs) from 14C-arachidonic acid by human gingival homogenate has been investigated. There were statistically significant (combined) linear and quadratic trends between hormone treatment at concentrations of 10(-9), 10(-7), 10(-5) and 10(-3)M and the amounts of PGF2, PGE2, PGD2 and 15-keto-PGE2 formed. The mean amount of each PG formed at the various concentrations of testosterone was statistically significantly less than the corresponding control level. The results indicate that testosterone, at the dose levels tested, is inhibitory to the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in gingiva.