Effect of prostaglandin E1 on the level of cAMP in bone marrow macrophages. Inhibition of phagocytosis and cell shape changes.

The effect of prostaglandins E1 (PGE1) and F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) on levels of cAMP, cell shape and phagocytosis of zymosan were examined. The addition of 10(-6) M PGE1 induced an immediate rise in the level of cAMP which fell again after 2.5 min. Phagocytosis was inhibited only after 60 min. of drug treatment. PGF 2 alpha did not show this effect. Neither db-cAMP or papaverine showed a similar effect on phagocytosis and cell shape to that produced by PGE1 treatment. Therefore, we conclude, that PGE1 does at least not exclusively act by changing cAMP levels, but rather directly influences cell membrane functions.