Abstract: | Blood prostaglandin A levels were measured in ten healthy subjects under different conditions of collection and storage.Plasma levels ranged from 1.20 to 1.81 ng/ml (M ± SE = 1.50 ± 0.10) in 5 females to 1.23 to 1.68 ng/ml (1.45 ± 0.09) in 5 males, when centrifuged and frozen immediately after collection. Storate at 4°C for varying times up to 24 hours and at 22°C (room temperature) up to 4 hours did not affect mean plasma concentrations significantly, but increased the range obtained to 1.00 to 2.47 ng/ml for both male and female groups.Serum concentrations differed in males and females and were lower than corresponding mean plasma values for males and higher for females. Mean serum concentrations were 1.77 ± 0.08 ng/ml in females and 1.18 ± 0.05 ng/ml in males and did not change significantly up to 24 hours of storage at 4°C.These results suggest that prostaglandin A assayed in both plasma and serum under the conditions described is stable and should allow for greater flexibility in sampling under different experimental conditions. |