Differences in 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase Activity in Male and Female Rat Kidneys

Abstract

In adult Wistar rats, 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) activity of male kidney homogenates was 40 times greater than that of female kidney homogenates; in contrast, PGDH activity of male and female lung homogenates did not differ significantly. Perhaps causally related to the difference in renal PGDH activity, urinary excretion of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ by female rats was twice, and excretion of PGF_α 3 times, that by males. Female rat renal homogenate and female rat renal high-speed supernatant inhibited PGDH activity of male rat renal homogenate and the activity of partially purified bovine PGDH.