Nature 221, 1251 - 1253 (29 March 1969); doi:10.1038/2211251b0

Biological Activity of Synthetic Prostaglandins

P. W. RAMWELL, JANE E. SHAW, E. J. COREY & N. ANDERSEN

Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545.
Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.

THE total synthesis of prostaglandin E₁ and prostaglandin F_1a has recently been achieved by methods which also make available various derivatives and steroisomers of the prostaglandin series^1,2. Biological studies on the synthetic prostaglandins, and certain unnatural synthetic stereoisomers, have been undertaken first to provide biological confirmation of the chemical synthesis and, second, to explore the metabolism and pharmacological activity of various stereoisomers in areas where the prostaglandins may be of clinical use. These include the regulation of gastric secretion^3,4, blood platelet aggregation⁵, blood pressure, lipolysis, carbohydrate metabolism⁶ and corticosteroidogenesis⁷.

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