Relationship between Prostaglandin F and Steroids in Human Peripheral Venous Plasma and Concentration of Prostaglandin F in Corpus Luteum

Concentrations of prostaglandin F and steroids in plasma and in corpus luteum (CL) were studied by radioimmunoassay during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in thirteen normal women. The average concentration of PGF in corpus luteum was 4.19 ± 1.59 ng/g (mean ± SE) (ranging from 0.03 to 20.5 ng/g) and in plasma was 208.1 ± 34.7 pg/ml (ranging from 47.0 to 393.3 pg/ml). There was no correlation between the concentrations of PGF in plasma and in CL. The average concentrations of progesterone and estradiol in plasma were 17.6 ± 1.2 ng/ml and 181.7 ± 20.7 pg/ml, respectively. These was no correlation between the plasma concentrations of PGF and steroids. There was a significant increase (p>0.01) in the mean concentration of PGF from the follicular phase (199.5 ± 26.4 pg/ml, n=35) to the luteal phase (241.9 ± 12.9 pg/ml, n=44). These findings are discussed in relation to the possible role of prostaglandin F in corpus luteum regression.