J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 20, 9216-9221, Jul, 1986
Isolation and biosynthesis of 20-hydroxyprostaglandins E1 and E2 in ram seminal fluid
EH Oliw, P Fahlstadius and M Hamberg
Ram semen was found to contain 20-hydroxyprostaglandin E1 and 20-
hydroxyprostaglandin E2. The relative amounts of the two compounds were
almost equal, although ram semen contained at least 10 times more
prostaglandin E1 than prostaglandin E2. The accessory genital glands of the
ram were analyzed for their capacity to metabolize [14C]arachidonic acid to
prostaglandins. Biosynthesis of prostaglandins was only found in microsomes
of the mucosa of the ampulla of vas deferens and in microsomes of the
vesicular glands. Ram vesicular glands and the ampulla of vas deferens were
also found to contain the two 20- hydroxylated E prostaglandins. Microsomes
of ram vesicular glands and NADPH metabolized exogenous prostaglandin E2 to
20-hydroxyprostaglandin E2 albeit in low yields. Prostaglandin E2 appeared
to be a better substrate than prostaglandin E1. Microsomes of human seminal
vesicles and NADPH metabolized exogenous prostaglandin E2 to 19-
hydroxyprostaglandin E2. The results show that 19- and 20-hydroxylation of
prostaglandins occurs in human and ram seminal vesicles, respectively, and
possibly also in the ampulla of vas deferens of the ram. The ram and human
enzymes specifically hydroxylated the terminal and the penultimate carbon
of prostaglandin E2, respectively.