Abstract
Synthetic platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether, 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) caused a dose-dependent increase in the synthesis of prostaglandin (PE) E-2 by an enriched glandular, but not stromal, fraction of human endometrium removed in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. PAF-acether did not alter the synthesis of PGF-2.alpha. by this fraction and consequently there was a significant reduction in the ratio of the amounts of PGF-2.alpha./PGE-2 released by the cells into the culture medium. The preimplantation human embryo secretes PAF, and these findings may have relevance to the local maternal recognition of pregnancy.