[Interaction of beta-mercaptoethylamine with the enzymatic system responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha].

After intraperitoneal administration of beta-mercaptoethylamine (MEA) into mice of F1 strain (CBA XC57B1) at a radioprotective dose, activity of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha-synthetases was decreased in liver microsomes, testicular and brain supernatants (16,000xg) within 15 min, which corresponded to period of the highest radioprotector activity. Amount of newly synthesized prostaglandins was increased in liver tissue within the subsequent periods. Within 3 hrs after the radioprotector administration these amounts constituted for PGE2 246% and for PGF2 alpha 262% as compared with controls; at the same time, activity of PG-synthetases in testes was normalized. In the brain tissue within 1 hr the newly synthesized prostaglandins amounted to 121% for PGE2 and 125% for PGF2 alpha, within 3 hrs they decreased to control values. Decrease in activity of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha-synthetases was shown to depend on MEA concentration in vitro. Possible mechanisms of the radioprotector effect at various steps of the prostaglandins biosynthesis are discussed.