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Reproductive Endocrinology pp 195–204Cite as

Prostaglandins and Their Mechanisms of Action in the Cyclic Ovary

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Prostaglandins (PG) belong to a diverse family of cell signaling molecules known as eicosanoids. Other members in this family include prostacyclins (PGI), thromboxanes (TX), and leukotrienes (LT). All eicosanoids (from eicosa-, Greek for “twenty”) are synthesized by oxygenation of 20-carbon essential fatty acids (EFA). There are three parallel pathways by which eicosanoids are produced depending on the starting EFA. In all these parallel pathways, eicosanoid production is mediated by the activity of two families of enzymes: cyclooxygenases and lypooxygenases. Cyclooxygenases, or COX, generate prostanoids, the collective term used for PG, PGI, and TX, while lypooxigenases generate the LT. Eicosanoids are found in all living cells; in mammals eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid are primarily involved in inflammation, immunity, and in central nervous system functions. Eicosanoids derived from the other two EFA, Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid (DGLA) and eicosapentenoic acid (PA) are inactive or even anti- inflammatory [1].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Jorge A. Flores

  2. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Christy Barlund

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  1. Jorge A. Flores
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

     

    [Ca2+]i:

    intracellular calcium concentration

    9 K-PGR:

    9-keto-PGE2-reductase

    AA:

    arachidonic acid

    bHLH:

    basic helix-loop-helix

    C/EBP:

    CAAT enhancing binding protein

    CL:

    corpus luteum

    COX:

    cyclooxygenases

    CRE:

    cAMP responsive element

    DGLA:

    dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid

    DP:

    PGD receptor

    EDN1:

    endothelin-1

    EDN2:

    endothelin-2

    EDN3:

    endothelin-3

    EDNRA:

    type A endothelin receptors

    EDNRB:

    type B endothelin receptors

    EFA:

    essential fatty acids

    EP1-4:

    PGE receptors with four subtypes

    FP:

    PGF receptor

    IP:

    PGI receptor

    IP3:

    inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

    IRE:

    interferon response element

    LH:

    luteinizing hormone

    LLC:

    large luteal steroidogenic cells

    LT:

    leukotrienes

    MCP-1:

    monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

    NF kB:

    or E-box nuclear factor kappa B

    NSAID:

    non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

    OT:

    oxytocin

    P4:

    progesterone

    PA:

    eicosapentenoic acid

    PG:

    prostaglandins

    PGDH:

    15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase

    PGFS:

    prostaglandin F synthase

    PGG2:

    hydroperoxy endoperoxide prostaglandin G2

    PGH2:

    prostaglandin H2

    PGI:

    prostacyclins

    PGT:

    prostaglandin transporter

    PKC:

    Protein Kinase C

    PLA2:

    phospholipase A2

    PLC:

    phospholipase C

    siRNA:

    silencing RNA

    SLC:

    small luteal steroidogenic cells

    TNF-α:

    tumor necrosis-alpha

    TX:

    thromboxanes

    TxA:

    thromboxane receptor

    USF:

    Upstream stimulatory factor

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    Flores, J.A., Barlund, C. (2009). Prostaglandins and Their Mechanisms of Action in the Cyclic Ovary. In: Chedrese, P. (eds) Reproductive Endocrinology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88186-7_17

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