Spontaneous and evoked release of prostaglandins from cerebral cortex of anesthetized cats

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Abstract
Smooth muscle-stimulating activity detected in salt solutions which had been in contact with the somatosensory cortex of anesthetized cats was identified by pharmacological methods with an unsaturated hydroxy-lipid acid, and subsequently by thin-layer chromatography with a mixture of prostaglandins. The chemical and pharmacological properties of the active material from superfusates and prostaglandins were compared and found similar. Increased release of prostaglandins was obtained by direct electrical, transcallosal, or contralateral superficial radial nerve stimulation: release following peripheral nerve stimulation was found to be dependent on the rate of stimulation. Sectioning of the corpus callosum abolished the transcallosal evoked release. Intravenous administration of analeptics also increased release of prostaglandins from the cortex; picrotoxin applied topically potentiated the evoked release. Elucidation of conditions governing release of prostaglandins from the cerebral cortex suggests a relationship between these pharmacologically active substances and nervous activity.