Role of PGE2 in the modulation of the adrenergic response in man

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Abstract
The influence of sympathetic stimulation (SS) (achieved by 2 min cold application) on the plasma concentration of PGE2, PGF2α (radioimmunoassay), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) (radioenzymatic assay) and on forearm vascular resistance (indirect measurement, FVR) was studied in 16 healthy volunteers before and after cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin (200 mg per day orally for 3 days) and lysine acetylsalicylate (corresponding to 10 mg·kg−1 of acetylsalicylic acid -ASA- iv). SS induced a sharp increase in PGE2 (from 8.1 ±4.3 pg·ml−1 before SS to 23.9±6.5, P2α remained undetectable both before and after SS. The increase in PGE2 was associated with a simultaneous increase in NA (from 13.4±24.2 to 204.1±67.2 pg·ml−1, P2 and NA plasma levels at rest or after SS. No PGE2 was detected during IND administration either before or after SS. IND significantly increased NA plasma concentration at the observation made 12 min after the beginning of SS (185.2±64.3 pg·ml−1 vs basal values of 135.9±46.2 pg·ml−1, P2 may be involved in modulating the adrenergic response by intervening at the pre-junctional level, probably facilitating the disposal of the neurotransmitter.