Prostaglandins are hormones that are involved in many physiological processes. This includes they are responsible for the symptoms of inflammation: swelling, redness and pain. In addition, they are used, inter alia, in pregnant women to speed up labor and to treat glaucoma. Find out what prostaglandins are, what functions they have in the body and what they are used in medicine.

Prostaglandins(PG) is a group of hormones that are formed in all tissues of the human body and which act at the site of their formation (the so-called paracrine hormones, tissue hormones). More than 16 types of prostaglandins have been identified in humans. Depending on the type of tissue and organ, prostaglandins have different, often opposite effects.

Prostaglandins -what functions does it perform in the body?

1. Inflammation mediators

Prostaglandins are inflammatory substances, the so-called tissue inflammation hormones, responsible for causing and maintaining inflammation. Their production by the immune system occurs when a cell or tissue is damaged. Then prostaglandins contribute to the increase in the permeability and dilatation of blood vessels, as a result of which there is swelling and redness of the diseased area, and also to an increase in body temperature, which is deadly for many pathogens. In addition, prostaglandins are formed in irritated tissues and stimulate the ends of nerve fibers that send pain signals to the brain, resulting in pain and hypersensitivity in the diseased or damaged area.

CHECK>>Causes, symptoms and treatment of inflammation

2. Responsible for muscle contractions

Prostaglandins are responsible for inhibiting or stimulating smooth muscle contractions:

  • airways - dilate the bronchial muscle
  • gastrointestinal tract - stimulate intestinal peristalsis and thus induce diarrhea
  • uterus - contribute to uterine contractions
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Can prostaglandins in your partner's sperm induce labor?

There is a view that frequent intercourse in the last days of pregnancy can speed up labor. In sperm there are prostaglandins that stimulatecontractile activity of the uterus and accelerate the maturation of the cervix, therefore some doctors recommend intercourse to pregnant women, but after the 38th week of pregnancy (the cervix becomes sensitive to prostaglandins after this time). In addition, during orgasm, the secretion of oxytocin increases, which is also responsible for the initiation or strengthening of uterine contractions in order to speed up labor. Therefore, having intercourse in the last days of pregnancy may lead to childbirth.

3. They inhibit the clumping of platelets and lower blood pressure

Prostaglandins, specifically prostacyclins (PGI2), which are produced in the endothelium of blood vessels, are the most important substances in the vascular system that prevent platelets from sticking together and improve blood flow, thereby inhibiting the formation of intravascular clots. When they run out (their production is sometimes disturbed with age), platelets stick to the walls of blood vessels, which contributes to reduced blood flow. As a consequence, a stroke or heart attack may occur. In addition, prostacyclins disperse already formed platelet clumps and dilate blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.

4. Regulate the work of the digestive system

Prostaglandins inhibit the secretion of gastric juice stimulated by food, gastrin or histamine and at the same time increase the secretion of gastric mucus (which is of great protective importance in peptic ulcer disease). Moreover, they inhibit the secretion of pancreatic juice.

5. Regulate kidney function

Prostaglandins increase renal blood flow, diuresis, sodium and potassium secretion.

Prostaglandins - application in medicine

  • erectile dysfunction, penile rehabilitation after surgery - injections of prostaglandins are used directly into the cavernous bodies of the penis (gradually contributes to their oxygenation) or self-dissolving sticks with prostaglandins inserted into the urethra (the so-called MUSE);
  • induction of labor or an abortion;
  • gastric and duodenal ulcers;
  • Raynaud's disease - as a vasodilator;
  • thrombotic and atherosclerotic changes in the lower limbs;
  • patent ductus arteriosus (Botalla) - to avoid its closure in newborns with heart defects;
  • glaucoma - a side effect can be increased hair growth around the eyes, this is used by the cosmetics industry, which adds prostaglandins to cosmetics for the growth of eyelashes and eyebrows;

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