Alterations in the fraction of oxygen in inspired gas affect rates of renal prostaglandin E2 synthesis in anesthetized dogs.

Reductions of oxygen in inspired gas from 20% to 15%, in anesthetized dogs, reduced arterial PO2 and increased the renal efflux of PGE2 but not PGF2a. Renal blood flow, blood pressure, plasma renin activity as well as arterial pH and PCO2 were unaffected PGs may mediate the renal hemodynamic or excretory consequences of alterations in PO2. In addition, minor variations in PO2 might account, in part, for the variable renal venous PGE2 concentrations reported under basal conditions.