Prostaglandin synthesis in aorta of atherosclerosis susceptible and atherosclerosis resistant pigeons.

The aortas of 9 months aged Show Racer and White Carneau pigeons were examined for their PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis from labelled arachidonic acid by radiothinlayer chromatography. The prostacyclin formation was estimated by means of Moncada's bioassay. PGE2 and PGF 2 alpha synthesis in the aorta of pigeons is higher than in rats, whereas less 6-keto-PGF1 alpha is formed in pigeon aortas. The susceptible White Carneau pigeons synthesitize more prostaglandins than the resistant Show Racer pigeons. PGI2 and 6-keto-PGF 1 alpha-formation is extremely low in avian arota. These data are in part contradicting to our findings im mammalians (where the atherosclerosis susceptible animals generate less PGI2) and warrants sequential measurements of prostaglandin synthesis in aorta to assess its significance during various stages of atherogenesis.