Renal prostaglandins act primarily as local hormones, having their effects at, or near to, sites of synthesis. PGE2 is a major determinant of renal vascular reactivity; it opposes the vasoconstrictor and natriuretic actions of pressor hormones and brakes the release of noradrenaline from adrenergic nerves. In the unanaesthetized rabbit prolonged inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis results in hypertension. In the rat, however, renal prostaglandins augment pressor stimuli. 2. Basal efflux of renal prostaglandins is positively correlated with blood flow to the inner cortex and medulla. Those stimuli which increase renal medullary blood flow do so primarily by activating prostaglandin synthetase. 3. Kinins increase prostaglandin synthesis which action modifies the renal effects of kinins. Thus, one or more renal prostaglandins contribute to the renal vasodilator action of bradykinin and mediate its effect on excretion of water as well as possibly attenuating the natriuretic action of the polypeptide. Kinins in addition to stimulating prostaglandin synthesis may determine the principal product of synthetase by regulating the enzyme PGE 9-ketoreductase, which converts PGE to PGF. The coupling of these systems within the kidney appears unique--prostaglandins mediate some of the actions of kinins and modulate others, whereas they depend on the intrarenal generation of kinins to set their level and type of activity.
