The action of the dihydro derivatives of prostacyclin--(6R)-PGI1 and (6S)-PGI1 on the heart and the coronary vasculature.

The action of the dihydro prostacyclins, (6R)-PGI1 and (6S)-PGI1, was studied on the isolated guinea pig heart and bovine coronary artery strips. PGE2 and PGI2 were used as standards. In the isolated guinea pig heart (6S)-PGI1 decreased the coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), myocardial force of contraction (MFC) and oxygen consumption (QO2). (6R)-PGI1 did not produce a significant change in these parameters. The ED50 (50% o maximum coronary dilation) was approximately 20 times higher for (6S)-PGI1 than for PGI2 or PGE2. Treatment of the hearts with reserpine + tyramine abolished the (6S)-PGI1-induced decrease in MFC but not the decrease in the CPP. The same pattern of responses was seen with PGE2. Bovine coronary artery strips were contracted by both (6S)-PGI1 and (6R)-PGI1, the ED50 (50% of maximum increase in tension) being 5 and 10 times higher than that for PGE2. The (6S)-PGI1-induced contraction was preceeded by a small relaxation, which, however, was much less than that seen after PGI2. It is concluded that the hydration of the 5,6 double bound in the PGI2 molecule results in an almost complete loss of PGI2-like activity and generates PGE-like activity. The same biological activity of both dihydro prostacyclins in the isolated coronary artery strip but not in the intact coronary vascular bed leads to suggest that the sites of action in these systems are different.