The Effects of Prostaglandins on Extrarenal Erythropoietin Production

Abstract The E and A series prostaglandins have been reported to stimulate erythropoiesis and renal erythropoietin (Ep) production. In the present study, these prostaglandins also stimulated the elaboration of extrarenal Ep in renoprival animals after hypoxia. This extrarenal response was primarily due to hepatic Ep synthesis; when subtotal hepatectomy (hepx) was followed by nephrectomy, the Ep response to hypoxia was almost completely abolished. The synthetic methylated prostaglandins (16, 16-dimethyl E2 and (15s)-15 methyl E2) exerted the most potent effects on both the hepatic and renal Ep response. It is believed that this is attributable, at least in part, to the greater stability of these compounds in vivo. Prostaglandins do not appear to be capable of substantially elevating Ep production by the regenerating liver. When compared to vehicle- or saline-injected rats, a greater stimulation of hepatic Ep elaboration after prostaglandin treatment was observed in animals with normal livers than in rats with liver regenerating 72 hr after hepx.