Md. Fernandeztome et al., COMPARTMENTAL STUDY OF RAT RENAL PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHESIS DURING DEVELOPMENT, Biology of the neonate, 70(4), 1996, pp. 235-245
The biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) from the endogenous and exoge
nous precursor, arachidonic acid (AA), in renal papilla, medulla and c
ortex from neonatal to adult rats was investigated. Rat renal papilla
and medulla incubated in the presence of [1-C-14]AA released radioacti
ve PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha) and PGD(2) which increased with age. No radioa
ctive prostaglandins were found in the supernatants of renal cortex at
any age studied. The amount of total prostaglandins released from the
endogenous precursor also increased from 10 to 70 days of age, PGD(2)
being the prostaglandin that showed the most important rise. In the c
ortex, only PGE(2) release increased with age. Cyclooxygenase (COX) ac
tivity was measured in papillary, medullary and cortical homogenates b
y using [1-C-14]AA as substrate. Papillary and medullary COX activity
increased after 10 days of age and continued to rise up to day 30 ther
eafter remaining unaltered until adulthood. Cortical COX activity was
very low and decreased with age. These findings indicate the low capac
ity of the neonatal rat kidney to synthesize PGs.