The use of the hamster stomach in vitro as an assay preparation for prostaglandins

Abstract

1 Hamster stomach strips in vitro are useful test preparations for the assay of prostaglandins E and F in the nanogram concentration range. Three-minute cycles can be used for long periods without spontaneous contractions or significant base-line instability. 2 The mean percentage error and the precision index of six 4-point assays of prostaglandin E₂ were 7·8 and 0·057, respectively. 3 The relative sensitivity to different prostaglandins was E₂/E₁∼1, E₂/F_1α∼65 and E₂/A₁∼400. 4 These preparations were relatively insensitive to 5-hydroxytryptamine (prostaglandin E₂/5-HT∼20,000) and histamine (prostaglandin E₂/histamine∼200). 5 These results suggest that the hamster stomach preparation can be used to differentiate between 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandins.