Prostaglandin biosynthesis in the epidermis and dermis of young mouse skin, and the effects of calcium and cyclic nucleotides.

Homogenates of skin from 2- to 3-day old mice converted labeled eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic acid to prostaglandins (PGs) PGE1, D1, and F1alpha. For several reasons PGD2 has been overlooked as a possible major PG in skin. The relative formation of each PG was modified by the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH), chelating agents (EDTA, EGTA), and L-epinephrine. Chelating agents and l-epinephrine increased conversion, espeicially to PGE1 but this effect was not due to inactivation of Ca++ which was shown to have no control over the reaction. Cyclic nucleotides including cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) were also ineffective. The conversion occurred mostly in the epidermis. Epidermal preparations were more efficient in the conversion than those from whole skin. Indomethacin (0.2 mM) completely inhibited the reaction.