A Comparison of Human Pulmonary Arterial and Venous Prostacyclin and Thromboxane Synthesis- Effect of a Thromboxane Synthase Inhibitor

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Abstract
The amounts of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) produced by the endothelial surfaces of paired samples of human pulmonary arteries and veins, obtained from patients undergoing thoracic surgery, were measured. The amounts of 6-keto-PGF1α and TxB2 produced by arteries compared with veins were not different. However, both arteries and veins produced more 6-keto-PGFlα than TxB2, the ratio being approximately 7.5:1 for both. 6-keto-PGFlα synthesis by arteries was significantly correlated with that produced by veins but the relative amounts of TxB2 were not correlated. 6-keto-PGFlα synthesis was correlated with TxB2 synthesis for veins but not for arteries. 8 of the 12 arterial samples exhibited some degree of intimal fibrosis. Incubation with the thromboxane synthase inhibitor, dazoxiben, caused a significant inhibition of vascular TxB2 synthesis and a significant increase in 6-keto-PGFlα synthesis. In 3 of the 5 cases the increase in 6-keto-PGFlα was too large to be explained by the fall in TxB2.