The effect of PGE2 and PGF2α on the response of guinea pig myometrium to adenine nucleotides in vitro

Prostaglandins E₂ and F_2α potentiate contractile effect induced by adenine nucleotides ATP, ADP and AMP in guinea pig myometrium in vitro. Prostaglandins and nucleotides were added to the organ bath in minute concentrations which have been proved ineffective or slightly contractile when both groups of substances were administered separately. The data of the present work, together with our previously published studies (9,10,13), where the action of exogenous adenine nucleotides, NAD and adenosine on rabbit's jejunum in vitro has been proved antagonistic to the contractile effect of various prostaglandins, suggest that prostaglandins and adenine nucleotides appear to block selectively or augment each other's action on various organs. The initial hypothesis that there is a regulatory correlation between endogenous prostaglandins and the function of purinergic nerves also is reinforced.