Prostaglandins and their effects on human placental adenyl cyclase.

Prostaglandins increased adenyl cyclase activity in human term placental homogenates in a dose-dependent manner during 10-min incubation periods. The potency of the prostaglandins examined was demonstrated to be in the ascending order, prostaglandin F(1alpha) < A(2), F(2alpha), B(2) < A(1) < E(2) < E(1). Although no specific trophic or regulating factors for placental function have been described as yet, it is possible that prostaglandins which are synthesized in decidual tissue could play such a physiological role.