Use of the rabbit transverse stomach-strip to identify and assay prostacyclin, PGA2, PGD2 and other prostaglandins.

The preparation and use of the rabbit transverse stomachstrip as an isolated assay tissue for prostaglandins is described. The tissue is relaxed by low concentrations of PGE2, PGA2 and PGD2 and contracted by prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGF2alpha. The decomposition product of prostacyclin, 6-oxo-PGF1alpha, has little effect, whereas the endoperoxide PGH2 and thromboxane A2 cause a small contraction. Arachidonic acid also contracts the tissue and this response is abolished by indomethacin. This tissue also responds to low concentrations of histamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and bradykinin. In conjunction with other bioassay tissues such as the rat stomach strip and rabbit coeliac artery, the rabbit transverse stomach strip provides a convenient method of detection of identification of known arachidonic acid metabolites.