Bioconversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins by graafian follicles and stroma from the human ovary

In order to study production of prostaglandins (PGs) by human pre-ovulatory ovarian tissue, bioconversion of ¹⁴Carachidonic acid to PGs was examined using homogenates of human Graafian follicles and stromal tissues fully stimulated by endogenous follicle-stimulating hormone in the regular menstrual cycle. Among the radioactive metabolites extracted, PGE₂ and 6-keto PGF_1α were purified and identified by silicic acid column-, thin layer-, reversed phase partition chromatographies and radiogaschromatography. The follicular tissue was shown to convert¹⁴ C-arachidonic acid to PGE₂ at a conversion rate of 0.34% but not to 6-keto PGF_1α. On the other hand, the stromal tissue was demonstrated to produce not only ¹⁴C-labelled PGE₂ at a conversion of 0.09% but mainly ¹⁴C-labelled 6-keto PGF_1α at 0.26%.