Effect of alpha-adrenergic stimulation on prostacyclin and renin release in the rat kidney

The relationship between renin secretion and PGI2 production, in response to intrarenal infusion of norepinephrine, was examined in the isolated perfused rat kidney. Infusion of norepinephrine in a dose which caused substantial vasoconstriction (100 ng/min), markedly increased urinary excretion of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, the stable derivative of PGI2, without significantly altering renin secretion measured in the effluent perfusate. No change in urinary 6-keto PGF1 alpha occurred when vasoconstriction was prevented by infusing the alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drug phenoxybenzamine (2 x 10(3) ng/min) alongside norepinephrine (100 ng/min). However, under these conditions there was marked stimulation of renin secretion which, as has been demonstrated previously, is mediated by a beta-adrenoceptor. There were significant increases in urine flow rates during both vasoconstrictor and non-vasoconstrictor infusions. These findings clearly indicate that in the rat kidney prostacyclin production and renin release in response to norepinephrine are dissociated.     

Metabolism of prostacyclin. III. Urinary metabolite profile of 6-keto PGF1α in rat

The in vivo metabolism of 6-keto PGF_1α was investigated in rats. Following continuous intravenous infusion for 14 days the urinary metabolites were isolated and identified. A substantial amount of unchanged 6-keto PGF_1α was recovered in the urine. The metabolic pattern very closely resembles that of PGI₂ in rats. Metabolites were found which represented 15-dehydrogenation, β-oxidation, ω and ω-1-hydroxylation and oxidation.Previous work showed that 6-keto PGF_1α is very poorly oxidized by 15-PGDH. We administered 15-[H³]-PGI₂ and 15-[H³]-6-keto PGF_1α to rats and measured urinary tritiated water as an index for in vivo 15-PGDH activity. The results showed that PGI₂ and 6-keto PGF_1α were both oxidized to the 15-keto product, although the rate of oxidation of PGI₂ was greater than that of 6-keto PGF_1α. We concluded that the administered PGI₂ was oxidized by 15-PGDH before hydrolysis to 6-keto PGF_1α. A portion of the dose is probably hydrolyzed before 15-dehydrogenation.     

Enhanced formation of PGI2, a potent hypotensive substance, by aortic rings and homogenates of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Intact rings and homogenates of aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) contain enhanced capacity over normal rats (NR) to convert arachidonic acid into PGI₂. The PGI₂ synthetic system in SHR is stimulated to a greater extent than NR by norepinephrine. Indomethacin blocks this stimulation. PGE₂ and PGF_2α were detected in much smaller amounts in homogenates (undetected in rings) but their formation was not enhanced by the hypertensive tissue. The identity of PGI₂ was based on 1) direct pharmacological assay on the rat blood pressure. In this system identical vasodepressor responses to PGI₂ are observed after intracarotid and intrajugular administration 2) indirectly as 6-keto PGF_1α isolated after incubation of aortic homogenates with tritiated arachidonic acid and 3) indirectly by GC-MS assay of PGE₂, PGF_2α and 6-keto PGF_1α formed during incubation of aortic homogenates with excess unlabeled arachidonic acid. These results provide additional support to our recent hypothesis that PGI₂, of aortic origin, might actively participate in the regulation of systemic blood pressure. Its enhanced formation by intact hypertensive vascular tissue reflects an increase in the number of enzyme molecules immediately available to the substrate. This could probably be an adaptive response to the elevated levels of catecholamines in the circulation.     

Effects of prostaglandins E2, I2 and F2α, arachidonic acid and indomethacin on pressor responses to norepinephrine in conscious rats

The effects of prostaglandins E₂ (PGE₂), I₂ (PGI₂) and F₂α (PGF₂α), arachidonic acid and indomethacin on pressor responses to norepinephrine were examined in conscious rats. Intravenously infused PGE₂ (0.3, 1.25 μg/kg/min), PGI₂ (50, 100 ng/kg/min), PGF₂α (1.8, 5.4 μg/kg/min) and arachidonic acid (0.7, 1.4 mg/kg/min) did not change the basal blood pressure. Both PGE₂ and PGI₂ significantly attenuated pressor responses to norepinephrine, whereas PGF₂α significantly potentiated them. Arachidonic acid, a precursor of the prostaglandins (PGs), significantly attenuated pressor responses to norepinephrine. Since the attenuating effect of arachidonic acid was completely abolished by the pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg), arachidonic acid is thought to exert an effect through its conversion to PGs. On the contrary, intravenously injected indomethacin (0.2–5.0 mg/kg) facilitated pressor responses to norepinephrine in a dose-related manner without any direct effect on the basal blood pressure. These results suggest that endogenous PGs may participate in the regulation of blood pressure by modulating pressor responses to norepinephrine in conscious rats.     

Effect of PGI2, PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1α on canine gastric blood flow and acid secretion

Prostaglandins (PG)I₂, PGE₂ and 6-keto PGF₁α were infused directly into the gastric arterial supply at 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁸ and 10⁻⁷ g/kg/min during an intra-gastric artery pentagastrin infusion in anesthetized dogs. 6-keto PGF₁α was also infused at 10⁻⁶ g/kg/min. Gastric arterial blood flow was measured continuously with a non-cannulating electromagnetic flow probe and gastric acid collected directly from the stomach. PGI₂ and PGE₂ produced similar dose-dependent increases in blood flow with an increase of more than four-fold at the highest dose. Both PGs inhibited acid output over this dose range with PGE₂ having 10 times the potency of PGI₂. 6-keto PGF₁α was at least 1000 times less active than PGI₂ or PGE₂ at increasing blood flow and failed to inhibit acid output even at 10⁻⁶ g/kg/min.     

A proposed role for prostaglandins in the modulation of the relaxation response to urotensin I in isolated rat arteries

Urotensin I (UI) elicits dose-dependent relaxation responses in isolated helical strips of rat tail and mesenteric arteries contracted by 10⁻⁵M norepinephrine (NE). The rat mesenteric artery demonstrated a 40 fold lower threshold sensitivity to UI (0.25 mU/M1 versus maximal relaxation at 0.25 mU/m1). Complete relaxation of the rat tail artery with UI could not be achieved, even at doses exceeding 10 mU/m1. Pretreatment of the arterial strips with cyclooxygenase inhibitors had no effect on the contractile response to NE in the tail artery, but reduced NE responsiveness in the mesenteric artery. Significant enhancement of UI relaxation responses in both types of arterial strips was achieved by pre-treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibiters, suggesting a modulatory role for prostaglandins (PGs) in the expression of the UI relaxation response in NE contracted arterial strips. The major enzymatically formed PG (as assessed by [1-¹⁴C] PGH₂ metabolism in broken cell preparations) in both the rat tail and mesenteric arteries was 6-keto PGF_1α, the stable hydrolysis product of PGI₂. Using a specific RIA to quantify 6-keto PGF_1α release, it was found that UI elicited nearly a two-fold increase in the release of this PG compared to the NE control in both rat tail and mesenteric arteries. These data suggest that PGI₂ may modulate the relaxation response to UI either by direct physiological opposition (PGI₂ elicited contractile response in NE contracted tail and mesenteric arteries at doses exceeding 10−8M) and/or by some as yet undefined mechanism (eg. effects on Ca²⁺, cAMP).     

A radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α utilizing an antiserum against 6-methoxime-prostaglandin F1α: Application to study renal synthesis of prostacyclin

PGI₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α were converted to 6-methoxime-PGF_1α (6-MeON-PGF_1α) by treatment with methoxyamine HCl in acetate buffer. The formed 6-MeON-PGF_1α was measured by radioimmunoassay. Antisera were raised in rabbits after immunization against 6-MeON-PGF_1α-BSA conjugate. Diluted 1:20.000 to bind 50% of the tracer (³H-6-MeON-PGF_1α, 100 Ci/mmol), the antiserum cross reacted 0.8% with PGE₂, 1% with PGF_2α and less than 0.2% with PGD₂, PGF_1α, PGF_2β and TXB₂. The radioimmunoassay was used to estimate release of PGI₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α from chopped rabbit renal medulla and cortex incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (37°C, 30 min). The 6-keto-PGf_1α radioimmunoassay was validated in biological samples by mass fragmentography. The chopped medulla (n=5) released 38±9 ng/g/min and the cortex (n=5) 4.7±2.0 ng/g/min, while the release of immunoreactive PGE₂ (iPGE₂) and iPGF_2α was 171±26 and 74±13 ng/g/min from the medulla and 4.3±1.3 and 2.7±0.3 ng/g/min from the cortex, respectively. The results confirm previous findings, which indicate that in the renal medulla prostaglandin endoperoxides are mainly transformed to prostaglandins, while in the cortex transformation to PGI₂ seems to be of greater importance.     

Effect of bisenoic prostaglandins on the uterine vasculature of the nonpregnant sheep

The effects of the bisenoic prostaglandins on the uterine vasculature and uterine contractile activity have been evaluated in an unanesthetized chronically catheterized nonpregnant sheep preparation. Changes in uterine blood flow were monitored with electromagnetic flow probes while uterine contractile activity and tone were determined via an intra-uterine balloon connected to a pressure transducer. Prostaglandins A₂, D₂, E₂, and prostacyclin (PGI₂) were all found to be vasodilators. PGD₂ and PGI₂ were much more potent than PGA₂ and PGE₂ in dilating the uterine vasculature. The prostacyclin breakdown product 6-keto PGF_1α, PGF_2α, thromboxane B₂, and the endoperoxide analogues U44069 and U46619 produced vasoconstriction of the uterine vasculature. Prostaglandins A₂, D₂ and F_2α increased while PGI₂ decreased uterine contractile activity. PGF_2α also increased uterine tone suggesting that a portion of its vasoconstrictor activity may be due to mechanical compression of the uterine vasculature.     

Prostacyclin and blood glucose levels in humans and rabbits

In patients with peripheral vascular disease and in healthy rabbits, infusion of PGI₂ but not of 6-keto PGF_1α induced a rise in blood glucose level and a pathological deviation in glucose tolerance test. In experiments , the increased concentrations of glucose produced dose-dependent inhibition of PGI₂ release from isolated rat aortic rings. The link between PGI₂ and carbohydrate metabolism is discussed.     

Actions of vanadate of arachidonic acid metabolism by cells in culture

Sodium vanadate (11 μM) amplified the PGI₂ production of rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line) incubated with thrombin, platelet activating factor, lysine-vasopressin, the Ca²⁺-ionophore A-23187, interleukin-1ß, 12-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, teleocidin, epidermal growth factor, palytoxin, thapsigargin and colchicine but not that stimulated by exogenous arachidonic acid. Sodium vanadate (2.2 μM) also amplified PGF_2α production of dog kidney cells (the MDCK cell line) incubated with norepinephrine and, at 0.4 μM, PGI₂ production of bovine aorta smooth muscle cells stimulated by serotonin. Sodium vanadate (55 μM) did not affect production of PGE₂ and PGF_2α in rat basophil leukemia cells (the RBL-1 cell line) stimulated by the Ca²⁺-ionophore A-23187, but did inhibit synthesis of peptide-containing leukotrienes and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. When used with cultured cells at micromolar concentrations, vanadate is known to inhibit protein tyrosine-phosphate phosphatases. These results suggest that in some cells deesterification of lipids is positively regulated, at least in part, by phosphorylation of tyrosine whereas in leukocytes, lipoxygenase activities are negatively regulated, at least in part, by phosphorylation of tyrosine.     

Prostanoid synthesis by human umbilical artery

A discrepancy between published values of PGI₂ production by human umbilical artery measured by platelet bioassay, compared with values of 6-oxo-PGF_1α by radioimmunoassay, raised the possibility that another anti-aggregatory prostanoid was produced by this tissue. To test this hypothesis, umbilical artery rings were incubated in buffer and PGI₂ determined by platelet bioassay and by a more specific radioimmunoassay based on comparison of 6-oxo-PGF_1α in hydrolysed and non-hydrolysed samples. 6-oxo-PGF_1a, PGF_2α and TXB₂ were also measured by gas chromatography negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. PGI₂ concentrations by radioimmunoassay and bioassay were significantly correlated (r = 0.92, p < 0.01). There was no difference between them, disproving the presence of an additional antiaggregatory substance. PGI₂ production determined by bioassay (mean 1.21 ng/mg wet weight/h, range 0.59–1.53 ng/mg/h) differed from previously reported values (range 70–325 ng/mg/h). 6-oxo-PGF_1α concentrations were confirmed by gas chromatography negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Previous determinations of PGI₂ production by this tissue overestimated it by approximately 100 times.     

The effect of adrenergic stimulation on urinary prostaglandin E2 and 6 keto PGF1α in man

To evaluate the details of the adrenergic stimulation of urinary prostaglandins in man, ten normal volunteers were given various agonists and antagonists. The effect of 4 hour IV infusions of norepinephrine (NE), NE + phentolamine (PHT), NE + phenoxybenzamine (PHB), NE + prazosin (PZ), isoproterenol (ISO), and PHT alone on urinary PGE₂ and PGI₂ (6 keto PGF_1α) were determined. PGE₂ and 6 keto PGF_1α were measured by radioimmunoassay from 4 hour urine samples. NE stimulated both PGE₂ (196±40 to 370±84 ng/4 hrs/g creatinine and 6 keto PGF_1α(184±30 to 326±36), both p<0.01. In contrast, ISO had no effect on either PGE₂ or 6 keto PGF_1α excretion. Alpha blockade with PHT. PHB, or PZ inhibited the NE induced systemic pressor effect. However, the effect of the alpha blockers on the NE induced stimulation of PGE₂ and 6 keto PGF_1α varied. PHT did not alter the NE stimulated PGE₂ or 6 keto PGF_1α release (370±84 vs. 381±80) PGE₂ and (326±50 vs. 315±40) 6 keto PGF_1α, both p>0.2). PHT alone stimulated only 6 keto PGF_1α. PHB and the specific α₁ antagonist PZ similarly eliminated the NE induced prostaglandin release. These results suggest that adrenergically mediated urinary prostaglandin release in man is via an alpha receptor with α₁ characteristics.     

Effect of in vivo prostaglandin treatment on H-PGF2α uptake in hamster corpora lutea

Pregnant hamsters were administered (SC) prostaglandin or vehicle on the morning of the 4th day of pregnancy. Serum progesterone was significantly depressed (p<.01) at 0.5, 2, and 6 hours after treatment with 100 μg PGF_2α. Serum progesterone levels were unchanged 2 hours and 6 hours after treatment with 100 μg PGF_2β and 2 hours after treatment with 1 mg PGF_2β. Progesterone levels were depressed to less than 1 ng/ml 6 hours after treatment with 1 mg PGF_2β. The specific uptake of ³H-PGF_2α in whole hamster corpora lutea was significantly depressed 2 hours and 6 hours following 100 μg PGF_2α treatment. A 15% depression in specific uptake occurred 0.5 hour post-treatment. Treatment with 100 μg PGF_2β resulted in no change. Administration of 1 mg PGF_2β resulted in depressed ³H-PGF_2α uptake at both 2 and 6 hours post-treatment.Prostacyclin (PGI₂) treatment resulted in no change in either ³H-PGF_2α specific uptake or serum progesterone 2 hours after 100 μg treatment SC. These parameters were both reduced approximately 30% 6 hours post-treatment. Treatment with 6-keto-PGF_1α resulted in a complete lack of measurable ³H-PGF_2α uptake and serum progesterone levels less than 1 ng/ml at both 2 and 6 hours after treatment with 1 mg SC.     

The effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) on tissues which detect prostaglandins (PG'S)

The effects of prostacyclin (PGI₂) and its stable metabolite 6-oxo-PGF_1α on various bioassay tissues are compared with those of PGE₂ and PGF_2α, using the cascade superfusion method. On vascular smooth muscle, PGI₂ caused relaxation of all tissues tested except the rabbit aorta. PGE₂ relaxed rabbit coeliac and mesenteric artery but contracted bovine coronary artery and had no effect on rabbit aorta. 6-oxo-PGF_1α was ineffective at the concentrations tested.On gastro-intestinal smooth muscle, PGI₂ contracted strips of rat and hamster stomach and the chick rectum. It was less potent than PGE₂ or PGF_2α. None of these substances contracted that cat terminal ileum. 6-oxo-PGF_1α was inactive on these tissues at the doses tested.PGI₂ was less active than PGE₂ or PGF_2α in contracting guinea-pig trachea and rat uterus; 6-oxo-PGF_1α was active only on the rat uterus. Thus, PGI₂ can be distinguished from the other stable prostaglandins using the cascade method of superfusion.     

Prostaglandin synthesis by the cochlea

The exogenous and endogenous syntheses of prostaglandins (PG's) by the cochlea of adult mongolian gerbils were studied . After incubation of the whole membraneous cochlea with [³H]-arachidonic acid (AA), syntheses of PGF_2α, 6-keto PGF_1α, PGE₂, thromboxane (TX) B₂ and PGD₂ were evidenced in this order. The synthesis of radioactive PG's was almost completely inhibited by incubation with 10⁻⁵ M indomethacin. No significant amounts of those PG's were detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in the cochlea obtained from animals killed by microwave irradiation at 5.0 kw for 0.8 sec. However, when the homogenate of the whole membraneous cochlea obtained from animals without microwave irradiation was incubated at 37°C for 0–15 min, PGD₂, PGE₂, PGF₂α and 6-keto PGF₁α were found to be formed from endogenous AA in the cochlea by RIA. PG's were formed already at 0 time to considerable level (PGD₂, PGF₂α and 6-keto PGF₁α, 90–120 pg/cochlea; PGE₂, 370 pg/cochlea), reached to the maximum level (PGD₂, PGF₂α and 6-keto PGF₁α, 170–200 pg/cochlea; PGE₂, 500 pg/cochlea) at a 5-min incubation, and then gradually decreased. On the other hand, the amount of TXB₂ was lower than the detection limit by RIA (<50 pg/cochlea) even after the incubation. The cochlea was dissected into three parts: organ of Corti + modiolus (OC + M), lateral wall (LW), and cochlear nerve (CN), and then PG's formed by these tissues were determined after a 5-min incubation of the homogenates. In the CN and OC + M, PGE₂ was the major PG (100 and 160 pg/tissue, respectively), and the amounts of PGD₂, PGF₂α and 6-keto PGF₁α were about of those of PGE₂. In the LW, the amounts of PGD₂, PGE₂, PGF₂α and 6-keto PGF₁α were about the same level (70–100 pg/LW).     

In vitro stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in the rat pancreas by carbamylcholine, caerulein and secretin

Rat pancreas pieces spontaneously released PGE₂ (2.3 ng/100 mg × 45 min) and PGF_2α (7.6 ng/100 mg × 45 min). This release corresponds probably to a neo-synthesis since it was abolished by indomethacin. Carbamylcholine (≥ 10 μM), caerulein (≥ 10 nM) and secretin (≥ 10 nM) stimulated the release of PGE₂ and PGF_2α : the concentrations of stimulators required to increase PGs release were thus much higher than those which trigger enzyme secretion. Atropine specifically inhibited the cholinergic stimulation, whereas indomethacin blocked the stimulatory effects of all secretagogues. Stimulation of PGE₂ and PGF_2α release was reduced in a Ca⁺⁺-free medium, abolished by EGTA and mimicked by the ionophore A23187, underscoring the crucial role of Ca⁺⁺ in the regulation of PGs synthesis by the pancreas. Neither PGE₂ nor PGF_2α stimulated enzyme secretion in this system and indomethacin did not inhibit the secretory effect of carbamylcholine. Increased synthesis of prostaglandins in response to pancreatic secretagogues does not appear to be involved in the process of enzyme secretion.     

A comparison of the effects of prostacyclin and 6-keto-prostaglandin E1 on renin release in the isolated rat and rabbit kidney

A direct comparison of the relative potencies of the prostaglandins PGI₂ and 6-kto-PGE₁ to induce renin release was made in the isolated rat kidney, which was perfused with a synthetic medium at constant perfusion pressure.Both prostaglandins stimulated renin release in a dose-dependent manner (0.01 to 1 μM) and with equal potency.Also in the isolated rabbit kidney, PGI₂ and 6-keto-PGE₁ had the same potency to induce renin release at 1 μM final concentration.Following infusion of 6-keto-PGE₁ a small increase of vascular resistance in the rat kidney was observed, whereas in the rabbit kidney no constrictor effect was seen.When perfusate of PGI₂ or 6-keto-PGE₁-infused rat kidneys were tested for antiaggregatory activity in the ADP induced aggregation of human platelets and compared with authentic standards, the results showed 6-keto-PGE₁ passes the kidney essentially unchanged, whereas only 25–40% of the infused PGI₂ appear in the venous perfusates, as judged from the recovery of antiaggregatory activity.Analysis of venous perfusates from ³H-PGI₂ infused kidneys by high performance liquid chromatography indicates that about 25% of the infused PGI₂ remains intact, a major portion of the perfused radioactivity was identified as 6-keto-PGF_1α by combined gaschromatography-mass-spectrometry (19).We conclude that the renin-stimulating effect of PGI₂ is not secondary to its metabolism to 6-keto-PGE₁, as has been suggested in the literature (8).     

Prostaglandin (PG) analysis in urine of humans and rats by different radioimmunoassays: Effect on PG-excretion by PG-synthetase inhibitors, laparotomy and furosemide

Thw radioimmunological (RIA) determination of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ and of PGF_2α in urine humans and rats is described in detail. After extraction and chromatography PGE₂ was determined by using a PGE specific antibody or by using either PGB or PGF_2α specific antibodies after the respective conversion procedures. The three different RIA procedures were compared to each other. PGF_2α was determined by a specific antibody to PGF_2α. Basal excretion of PGE₂ and of PGF_2α in healthy women on free diet was 9.3 ng/hour ± 0.96 and 18.3 ng/hour ± 2.5 respectively. Furosemide increased the excretion of PGE₂ and of PGF_2α in humans significantly, while PG-excretion rates decreased on indomethacin. In rat urine PGE₂ and PGE_2α increased markedly from 46.2 pg/min ± 9.3 and 27 ± 3.4 to 253.8 ± 43.3 and 108 ± 12.6 pg/min (per one kidney) in the anesthetized-laparotomized animal. This increase was abolished after giving two different PG synthetase inhibitors.     

Estrogen increases male rat aortic endothelial cell (RAEC) PGI2 release

Estrogen has been proposed as a negative risk factor for development of peripheral vascular disease yet mechanisms of this protection are not known. This study examines the hypothesis that estrogen stimulates rat aortic endothelial cell (RAEC) release of PGI₂. Male Sprague-Dawley rat abdominal aortic 1-mm rings were placed on 35 mm matrigel plates, and incubated for 1 week. The cells were transferred to a Primaria 60-mm dish and maintained from passage 3 in RAEC complete media and experiments performed between passages 4–10. Cells were incubated with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (pH 7.4) containing carrier or increasing concentrations of β-estradiol or testosterone for 60 min. The effluent was analyzed for eicosanoid release of 6-keto-PGF_1α (6-keto, PGI₂ metabolite), PGE₂ and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) by EIA (hormone stimulated — basal). Cells were analyzed for total protein by the Bradford method and for cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and prostacyclin synthase (PS) content by Western blot analysis and densitometry. Testosterone did not alter RAEC 6-keto-PGF_1α release, whereas estrogen increased RAEC 6-keto-PGF_1α release in a dose-related manner. Estrogen preincubation (10 ng/ml) decreased COX-1 and PS content by 40% suggesting that the estrogen-induced increase in male RAEC PGI₂ release was not due to increased synthesis of COX-1 or PS. These data support the hypothesis that estrogen stimulation can increase endogenous male RAEC release of PGI₂.     

The effect of intrauterine administration of prostacyclin on the contractility of the non-pregnant uterus in vivo

Prostacyclin was infused into the uterus of non-pregnant women either during early menstruation or in the secretory phase of the cycle. A dose of 5 μ/min produced little systemic effect and caused a significant decrease in uterine activity on Days 1 and 2 of the menses whereas 0.5 μg/min did not. However, when dysmenorrhoeic pain and increased uterine activity were produced by infusion of PGF_2α during the secretory phase, PGI₂ neither decreased the activity nor the pain. This indicates that PGI₂ does not cause uterine relaxation by blocking the action of PGF_2α.