Biosynthesis of a novel prostaglandin, delta 17-PGE1, in the ram.

The prostaglandin, delta 17-PGE1, was purified from extracts of ram seminal fluid by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified after conversion to delta 17-PGB1 by UV-analysis and by capillary column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was also formed by incubation of a homogenate of ram vesicular glands. The amount of delta 17-PGE1 in the seminal fluid and in the homogenate averaged 12% and 25% of the amount of PGE2, respectively. The results show that cis-8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid can be metabolized to prostaglandins in vivo in the ram.