| Abstract: | Increased production of prostaglandin D2 was recently demonstrated in patients with systemic mastocytosis. One female patient investigated with mastocytosis was found to have overproduction of prostaglandin D2 of such magnitude (150-fold above normal) that it provided the unique opportunity to delineate the metabolic fate of endogenously synthesized prostaglandin D2. A five percent aliquot of a twenty-four hour urine collection from this patient was extracted, purified by silicic acid chromatography, methylated, and finally subjected to high pressure liquid chromatography. Column fractions collected were derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Increased quantities of sixteen urinary metabolites were identified and included a series of metabolites retaining the PGD-ring as well as a series of metabolites with a PGF-ring. PGF-ring metabolites were excreted in approximately 4-fold greater relative abundance than PGD-ring metabolites. More than one apparent isomeric form of some PGF-ring metabolites were found. The predominant urinary metabolite was 2,3-dinor-prostaglandin F2. This study provides evidence that endogenously synthesized prostaglandin D2 is converted in substantial part to prostaglandin F2 metabolites in vivo in humans. |
